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Dieren en planten

Water en land

Mens en Milieu

Energy   Energy from seawater   
Seawater in the Marsdiep, Ecomare

Energy from seawater

Energy can be produced from the difference in electrochemical tension between fresh and salt water, with the help of membranes which allow salt ions to penetrate. For example, energy between the IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea can be produced by linking a large number of membranes together. In theory, this can generate 3300 megawatts, which is equivalent to the yield of five large power plants. The problem is the growth of bacteria which produces a bothersome biofilm. This can be prevented by using chemicals, but the chemicals are bad for the environment. In addition, the membranes are very expensive.

  • Trial installation

    An experimental installation to generate sustainable current from salty and fresh water via reverse electrolysis was built in Harlingen in 2005. Everyday kitchen salt (NaCl) is what makes seawater salty. By leading the ions to fresh water via two membranes, a difference in tension is created which generates energy. The only residue is brackish water. According to the owner of the company, there could be a large-scale installation that generates 200 megawatts of energy within ten years. That is sufficient energy to provide almost all Frisian households.

  • Heating from cold seawater

    An entirely different manner of extracting energy from seawater is using help from a heat exchanger. Heat from sea is transported to a network which is linked to houses. Small water pumps located in the house make sure that the temperature of the water increases. The system even works in the winter. The first neighborhood to be heated in this way is Duindorp in Scheveningen.

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