There is a new idea afoot in the Netherlands these days and they have an opportunity to take advantage of it. The idea is generating saltwater power by a process called reverse electrodialysis.  Just as desalination takes an enormous amount of energy to produce fresh water from salt water, the reverse occurs when fresh water is mixed with salt water – energy is produced. This process represents a potential clean, renewable energy source which is 30-40% more efficient than burning coal. Post and Hamelers calculated that mixing 1 cubic meter (m3) of freshwater with 1 m3 of salt water could yield 1.5 megajoules of energy at 80% efficiency.

How is this an opportunity? Well, the Netherlands is a country below sea level and with impending rising sea levels and age of their current dike system they need to update and replace the dikes soon.  A 300MW  reverse electrodialysis power plant is being considered as a part of the reconstruction of 75 year old 32km Afsluitdijk dike.   Three birds with one stone – Energy, water, and environment.   Clean, renewable energy that holds back the rising sea and works by a natural process.