Salinity gradient energy is not a competitive source of renewable energy

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18. In the water dam equivalence, a 280 m water column generates hydraulic pressure of ∼27 bar which corresponds to the osmotic pressure difference between seawater and river water. If we simplify river water as salt-free with zero osmotic pressure, then 27 bar is the osmotic pressure of seawater. Having the same dimension, an osmotic pressure of 27 bar can also be converted to an energy density of 0.75 kWh m−3. Therefore, the theoretical maximum of energy density for seawater/river water SGE is 0.75 kWh per volume of the river water.

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42. The Global Rise of Zero Liquid Discharge for Wastewater Management: Drivers, Technologies, and Future Directions10.1021/acs.est.6b01000 ↗

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51. The Future of Seawater Desalination: Energy, Technology, and the Environment10.1126/science.1200488 ↗