Clean energy from salt water

SaltPower, a Danish start-up taking an innovative approach to the problem of global warming, was founded in 2015 by engineer, inventor and businessman Jørgen Mads Clausen. Its unique system uses salt water – one of the world’s most abundant resources – to create emission-free energy through the power of osmosis.

While designing its initial prototype, SaltPower needed more sustainable and longer-lasting alternatives to traditional steel pipes. Having previously collaborated with GF on a project with Semco Maritime, SaltPower engaged GF Piping Systems as an official supply partner. “GF believed in our business model from the very beginning and supported us in our pioneering work even as a start-up,” says SaltPower CEO Lars Storm Pedersen. “GF’s advanced piping components and focus on sustainability have been decisive in making our pilot projects so successful.”

SaltPower uses the natural process of osmosis to generate 100% emission-free electricity. Its system pumps fresh water and salt water through two tanks separated by a membrane with pores so tiny that only water can pass through them. Seeking a natural balance, the fresh water automatically moves through the membrane and mixes with the salt water to equalize the salinity levels. This controlled water transfer creates a build-up of pressure that powers a turbine and generates clean electricity, 24/7. The system’s only by-product is salt water, making it a sustainable energy solution for companies that produce or consume large volumes of salt.

SaltPower’s systems are rated at 100 kilowatts and measure just 6x15 meters. The company says it can also achieve larger capacities by connecting multiple systems together, providing clean baseload power for facilities of all sizes.

After several years of research and development, SaltPower recently sold its first commercial system and is now planning to scale production throughout Europe. Now that its first commercial order is underway, Lars Storm Pedersen believes that Salt- Power is primed to make a lasting impact in the clean energy sector. “ Renewables such as solar and wind have key roles to play in the energy transition, but they are intermittent by nature,” he says. “ Using GF’s piping components, SaltPower can generate clean electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which is exactly what the world needs going forward.”

In the face of rising carbon emissions, GF is proudly working with SaltPower to develop this sustainable energy solution. And with the Danish company poised for rapid growth, this successful collaboration is laying new foundations for a cleaner, greener future.