Electricity generated with water, salt and a 3 atoms thick membrane Electricity generated with wat

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://actu.epfl.ch/news/electricity-generated-with-water-salt-and-a-3-atom/

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Electricity generated with water, salt 
and a 3 atoms thick membrane[/font]

[font size=4]14.07.16 - EPFL researchers have developed a system that generates electricity from osmosis with unparalleled efficiency. Their work, featured in Nature, uses seawater, fresh water, and a new type of membrane just three atoms thick.[/font]

[font size=3]Proponents of clean energy will soon have a new source to add to their existing array of solar, wind, and hydropower: osmotic power. Or more specifically, energy generated by a natural phenomenon occurring when fresh water comes into contact with seawater through a membrane.

Researchers at EPFL’s Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology have developed an osmotic power generation system that delivers never-before-seen yields. Their innovation lies in a three atoms thick membrane used to separate the two fluids. The results of their research have been published in Nature.

…

Once the systems become more robust, osmotic power could play a major role in the generation of renewable energy. While solar panels require adequate sunlight and wind turbines adequate wind, osmotic energy can be produced just about any time of day or night – provided there’s an estuary nearby.[/font][/font]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature18593

[intrepidity]

1. The cynic in me thinks this power will have to be used to desalinate

Scaled up, this process ends up converting fresh water to saline, so.... use the power to desalinate and we're back where we started.

Hopefully I am wrong.

[Warpy]

2. That certainly limits where it can be used

Wet seaboards here along the east and Gulf coasts would be fine. South of the PNW, forget it, on down the line through South America.

The truth is that there won't be a single source for energy in the future. Wherever we are, we're surrounded by free energy. All we have to do is harness what's in our area.

Here in the southwest, solar and wind farms are popping up all over.

[bigbrother05]

3. Actually, that would be a loss because of efficiency

The benefit would come from placement where the fresh/salt interface already exists. We have plenty of estuaries in the world that would be prime sources to employ such a system. Just wouldn't make sense in a land-locked, arid location.

Another potential "all of the above" source of renewable energy.