Osmotic Power Technology Prototype Now Operational

By Ed Martinez

December 7, 2009

The largest renewable energy provider in Europe, Statkraft, has developed a prototype that can generate power by exploiting the energy available when fresh water and seawater are mixed.

Osmotic power is a renewable and emissions-free energy source that Statkraft has been researching for 10 years. "This new technology generates electricity simply by mixing water. New solutions to meet the climate challenges might be closer than we expect, which makes me confident that the future looks bright," said Statkraft CEO and President, Bard Mikkelsen.

Mikkelsen said that the prototype in Norway will have a limited production capacity and is intended primarily for testing and development purposes. His goal is to build a commercial osmotic power plant within a few years’ time.

Statkraft estimates osmotic power can generate between 1,600 and 1,700 TWh annually, which is equivalent to 50 percent of the Europe’s total production.

Future osmotic plants can be built wherever fresh water runs into the sea. They produce no noise or polluting emissions and can be integrated into existing industrial zones.