Statkraft and Hydro-Québec to cooperate on research and development into osmotic power

Statkraft and Hydro-Québec have entered into a three-year agreement to speed up the development of osmotic power, a new renewable energy technology.

Under the agreement, Hydro-Québec will study the important process of pre-treatment of freshwater in an osmotic power plant. The aim is to identify and validate the most cost-efficient pre-treatment technologies for use in an osmotic power plant, including membrane life expectancy, maintenance costs and impact on the environment.

The development of more efficient pre-treatment processes will contribute to making the technology competitive with other new renewable energy sources.

Statkraft has been developing osmotic power for a decade and opened the world’s first prototype facility for osmotic power in 2009. Hydro-Québec has been continuing to research the operation, potential and applications of osmotic energy, as part of its active monitoring of new renewables.

Statkraft will provide research and development results in this field from the prototype facility that has been in operation since the fall of 2009, as well as testing pre-treatment as an integrated part of a complete osmotic power plant.

About Hydro Quebec:

Hydro-Québec is a world-class public utility that generates, transmits and distributes electricity. Its sole shareholder is the Québec government. It primarily exploits renewable generating options, in particular hydropower, and supports the development of wind energy through purchases from independent power producers. It also conducts research in energy-related fields such as energy efficiency. Its research institute, IREQ, conducts R&D in energy efficiency, energy storage and other energy-related fields. Hydro-Québec invests more than $100 million per year in research.

About Statkraft:

Statkraft is Europe’s leader in renewable energy and the leading developer of osmotic power worldwide. The group develops and generates hydropower, wind power, gas power and district heating, and is a major player on the European energy exchanges. Statkraft has more than 3 400 employees in more than 20 countries and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.