Environmental Assessment of the Impacts and Benefits of a Salinity Gradient Energy Pilot Plant

Etzaguery Marin-Coria, Rodolfo Silva, Cecilia Enriquez, M. Luisa Martínez and Edgar Mendoza
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Etzaguery Marin-Coria: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior S/N, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Rodolfo Silva: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior S/N, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Cecilia Enriquez: Campus Yucatan, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico
M. Luisa Martínez: Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
Edgar Mendoza: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior S/N, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-24

Abstract: Although the technologies involved in converting saline gradient energy (SGE) are rapidly developing, few studies have focused on evaluating possible environmental impacts. In this work, the environmental impacts of a hypothetical 50 kW RED plant installed in La Carbonera Lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico, are addressed. The theoretical support was taken from a literature review and analysis of the components involved in the pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and reverse electrodialysis (RED) technologies. The study was performed under a three-stage scheme (construction, operation, and dismantling) for which the stress-inducing factors that can drive changes in environmental elements (receptors) were determined. In turn, the possible modifications to the dynamics of the ecosystem (responses) were assessed. Since it is a small-scale energy plant, only local impacts are expected. This study shows that a well-designed SGE plant can have a low environmental impact and also be of benefit to local ecotourism and ecosystem conservation while contributing to a clean, renewable energy supply. Moreover, the same plant in another location in the same system could lead to huge modifications to the flows and resident times of the coastal lagoon water, causing great damage to the biotic and abiotic environment.

Keywords: salinity gradient energy; RED; PRO; coastal systems; stress factors; receptors; environmental impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:11:p:3252-:d:567908

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