Blue Energy

980 Words2 Pages

We can build better or secure energy future by different methods. For example by the search for renewable energy sources, now the world relies heavily on fossil fuels (oil, natural gas or coal). And we know that fossil fuels are non-renewable. The resources of these fossil fuels are limited and these resources are started to abundant. So we need such fuel or sources of energy which are infinite or renewable easily. The need for clean and sustainable energy sources is quite evident, since fossil fuels have a number of drawbacks: such as emissions of greenhouse gases, depletion of finite sources, and dependence on a few oil-exporting regions in the world. Current energy conversion techniques that are considered to be sustainable include solar, wind, biomass, and hydro energy. There are other sources of sustainable energy including, but not limited to tidal power, ocean wave power, and ocean thermal energy conversion. A significant potential to obtain clean energy exists from mixing water streams with different salt concentrations. This salinity-gradient energy, also called Blue Energy, is available worldwide where fresh water streams flow into the sea. The global energy output from estuaries is estimated at 2.6 TW, which represents approximately 20% of the present worldwide energy demand. Large amounts of blue energy can also be made available from natural or industrial salt brines.
In the literature, several techniques for energy conversion of the salinity gradient have been proposed: pressure-retarded osmosis, reverse electrodialysis, and vapor-pressure difference utilization. The main drawback of these membrane-based conversion techniques was the high price of membranes. However, the decreasing prices of membranes for desalinatio...

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...dient energy is a most promising energy source for generation of electricity with the high potential available in comparison to another source of renewable energy. There are many places in the world where the salinity gradient energy is available, so installation of the plants in rivers mouth can be produced and support the huge amount of global electricity demands in future. This essay study presented the over review for salinity gradient energy and discussed about the important techniques (i.e. RED and PRO) for harnessing energy from this type of renewable energy source.
Demand for energy continues to rise unabated, so it is essential now to introduce alternative methods to produce electric energy to secure or energy future. Different methods are available to renewable the energy and meet the needs of population but security of health and income should be priority.

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