Saltwater Equals Energy

Norwegian power company Statkraft unveiled the world’s first osmotic power prototype last week, which uses saltwater to generate eco-friendly electricity. The new technology uses osmosis: a permeable membrane separates saltwater from freshwater, and the pressure of the freshwater diluting the saltwater moves a turbine that creates electricity. The small project will initially produce just four kilowatts of energy, but Statkraft hopes to build a full power plant by 2015 that can produce 25 megawatts. Proponents say this type of renewable, emissions-free energy is promising because it does not rely on weather, like wind or solar power, and it can be produced wherever saltwater and freshwater interact.