Energy Biz - March/April 2008 - (Page 49) TEchnicaL iLLusTraTiOn By ruDOLF anD rOBErT Das. The Energy Island in the Netherlands and Europe works by incorporating pumped hydro storage in an inverse offshore pump accumulation station (IOPAC). branes will lose both its positive ions and negative ions. This charge separation produces a potential difference that can be used directly as electrical energy. The technology’s key material is special membranes made from the electrical modification of plastics. Thanks to recent advances by KEMA in the electrical modification of plastics, the special membranes needed for Blue Energy now can be made economically. The new application of KEMA’s electrical modification method to the production of ion exchanging membranes means that Blue Energy is becoming more affordable. While prices do need to fall further and the membrane quality needs further improvement before the technology becomes truly economically feasible, advances in this technology provide exciting insight into the possibilities of our energy future. hoW does Blue energy Work? Fresh water naturally tries to mix with salt water. Fresh and salt water can be placed in adjacent tanks separated by the special membranes. Once the fresh water has passed through the membranes, it will not flow back the other way, leaving potential energy that can be tapped with a water turbine. Blue Energy plants could be created at every river mouth. Best applications of this technology are in coastal areas such as the ThOughT LE aDErshiP – sPOnsOrED By kEMa www.energycentral.com E n E rgyB i z 49 http://www.energycentral.com
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