Osmotic power, salinity gradient power or blue energy is the energy available from the difference in the salt concentration between seawater and river water.
Representatives of 16 countries attended the 11-13 July Regional Forum for National Designated Entities in Asia organized by the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to promote information exchange and capacity building on climate technologies and finance.
Background: Mass cultivation of algae for biofuel production has focused on the use of open ponds or closed bioreactors. Both approaches depend upon routine liquid culturing of the algae and require the removal of large quantities of water at the time of cell harvesting and subsequent extraction of desired products. This invention proposes the use of porous inert membranes to support the growth and subsequent harvesting of the algae.
Electricity generation through the use of salinity gradients between salt and fresh water is a relatively new concept. While discovered and discussed in the 1970s, research has been slow and most of it only recently. Two practical methods concerning membrane technology are currently being researched: the reverse electrodialysis (RED) method and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO). Both technologies are dependent on the semi permeable membrane. A semi-permeable membrane is selective in its permeability, i.e. only specific substances can pass through the membrane.
The Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report describes progress in understanding of the human and natural drivers of climate change, observed climate change, climate processes and attribution, and estimates of projected future climate change. It builds upon past IPCC assessments and incorporates new findings from the past six years of research.Key findings include:
The goal of the project is to build the capacity of the community to reduce salinity, tidal inundation and cyclone relate vulnerability, as well as to facilitate poverty reduction. The specific objectives of the project are:
There is a growing realisation that climate change will present a serious challenge for farmers – and that could mean big profits for companies that can help them adapt to environmental stress. This article examines the new generation of genetically modified (GM) crops which are emerging in response to a changing climate.
Points made include:
This brief outlines the approach of using indigenous varieties of rice to develop salt tolerant crops for areas where soil salinity is an increasing problem.
This article presents a case study of arid land salinization in the Siwa Region of Egypt. Based on an analysis of satellite images taken between 1987 and 2003), and field observations, are used to characterize alterations in vegetation cover and provide evidence for locating possible future changes due to soil salinity. Results found that an observed acceleration in the rate of soil salinization and vegetation death was related to the relative climate warming, improper establishment of drainage systems set and the absence of an effective water resource management plan.
