Environmental Impacts Assessment of Power Extraction by Salinity Gradient Power (SGP) Method

A huge potential to obtain clean energy exists from mixing water streams with different salt concentrations. Salinity gradient power (SGP) is based on thechemical potential difference between concentrated and dilute salt solutions. In this paper we discuss about the potential environmental impacts of salinitygradient power (SGP) processes. We discuss how these issue depend on the technology applied (reverse electrodialysis(RED) or pressure retardedosmosis(PRO)), on the sources of water used and on the specific site conditions. Regarding the environmental impacts, we analyses the waterintake, the water disposal, and the infrastructure impacts. After a general review of each of the disadvantages and advantages of these systems, aconclusion is made about the risks of using or not using these systems.