Abstract
In this chapter we cover the potential environmental impacts, the economic performance, the resource availability, and the relevant regulatory aspects of salinity gradient power (SGP) technologies. We discuss how these issues depend on the technology applied(reverse electrodialysis or pressure retarded osmosis), on the sources of water used and on the specific site conditions. Regarding the environmental impacts, we analyse the water intake, the water disposal, and the infrastructure impacts. On the economics, the levelized cost of electricity metric is introduced along with the variables we need to define to calculate it for SGP plants. The expected and required cost development of key components for making the technology competitive is also discussed. The global resource potential for the seawater/freshwater applications is estimated, while the possible brine sources and the heat availability for driving the heat engines are also discussed. Finally, the regulatory issues are introduced, covering the renewable energy support schemes, subsidies for R&D activities, public acceptance, and the necessary permits for construction and operation of SGP plants.