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RESEARCH PRODUCT

A methodology for assessing the impact of salinity gradient power generation in urban contexts

Gaetano ZizzoValentina VaccaroGiorgio MicaleF. GiacaloneM. L. Di SilvestreR. SangiorgioE. Riva SanseverinoAndrea CipollinaQuynh T. Tran

subject

Settore ING-IND/26 - Teoria Dello Sviluppo Dei Processi ChimiciRenewable Energy Sustainability and the Environmentbusiness.industry020209 energyGeography Planning and DevelopmentPhotovoltaic systemEnvironmental engineeringUrban densityTransportation02 engineering and technologyGridSettore ING-IND/33 - Sistemi Elettrici Per L'EnergiaSalinitySettore ING-IND/31 - Elettrotecnica0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineeringOsmotic powerEnvironmental scienceSeawaterElectricitybusinessEnergy sourceSalinity gradient power Urban energy hub Sustainable cities Distributed generation HOMERCivil and Structural Engineering

description

Abstract The paper proposes a methodology to assess the potential impact of salinity gradient power technology in urban contexts. The idea to employ such energy source in urban contexts derives from the observation that, among the energy districts outputs, low-salinity treated wastewater can be used to produce electricity if a suitable source of high salinity feed (seawater of a salt-works) is also available. The methodology uses the HOMER software for assessing the district’s electric energy production, consumption and exchange with the main grid. Then, starting from the total gross surface and the number of inhabitants of the district, some possible realistic scenarios characterized by different wastewater flow rate are defined. Finally, for each scenario the size and the yearly energy production of the salinity gradient power system are calculated thanks to a simulator carried out by the same authors. An application example, considering three different scenarios, shows that urban density plays a crucial role in the process and that the most promising realistic scenarios are those including treated wastewater and brine and unlimited seawater and brine. The economic feasibility of the salinity gradient power technology is evaluated by a comparison with classical renewable technologies such as photovoltaic and wind systems.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2018-04-01Sustainable Cities and Society
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.12.037