Application of reverse electrodialysis to site-specific types of saline solutions: A techno-economic assessment

F. Giacalone, M. Papapetrou, G. Kosmadakis, A. Tamburini, G. Micale and A. Cipollina

Energy, 2019, vol. 181, issue C, 532-547

Abstract: Salinity gradients are a non-conventional source of renewable energy based on the recovery of the Gibbs free energy related to the mixing of solutions at different concentrations. Reverse Electrodialysis is a promising and innovative technology able to convert this energy directly into electric current. The worldwide availability of salinity gradients is limited to those locations where water bodies at different salinity levels are present. The present work analyses a number of different scenarios worldwide, in locations where salinity gradients are naturally available or generated by anthropogenic activities. A techno-economic model of the Reverse Electrodialysis process is presented. The model is used to evaluate the energy that can be harvested in each real scenario using a reverse electrodialysis plant and relevant results are reported in terms of power densities and energy yields. Finally, an economic analysis based on the estimation of the Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE) for each scenario is presented, and perspective considerations are reported. Results suggest that competitive values of LCOE may be achieved in some scenarios.

Keywords: Reverse electrodialysis; Salinity gradient energy; Renewable energy; Levelized cost of electricity; Osmotic power; Techno-economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:181:y:2019:i:c:p:532-547

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.05.161

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