Page 25 - Industrial Plant 2020

A full GemStar farm installed
in the Strait of Messina Salinity gradient
could provide as much as 161 GWh
of energy per year Seawater is approximately 200 times more saline than fresh river
water, derived from rain, snowmelt and groundwater, which is
Some of the key advantages of the technology vis-à-vis delivered to the coast by major rivers. The relatively high salinity of
seawater establishes a chemical pressure potential with fresh river
its competitors are: water, which can be used to generate electricity. Salinity gradient
1. Relatively cheap power thus has its greatest potential at the mouths of major rivers,
2. Easy to maintain, as it can be brought to the where large volumes of fresh water flow out to sea. There are two
surface without the need for expensive crane technologies being developed to convert this energy into electricity:
vessels pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and reverse electrodialysis (RED).
3. Low environmental impact, as it floats underwater
and has no foundations
4. No visual impact location with strong and predictable currents, relatively
5. No interference with navigation lines deep waters (where competitor solutions would not be
6. Installable almost anywhere without significant applicable) and with highly populated coastlines. The
water depth restrictions survey campaign to identify the most suitable location
7. Adjustable operating depth in order to reach has been completed and a more detailed campaign to
optimum current conditions collect additional data for the selected site is ongoing.
Saipem will undertake the transportation and installation
Initial experimental tests were performed at the towing of the device while also providing engineering support
tank at the University of Naples. Subsequently, the first for optimization of the mooring system. Possible client
100kw prototype was deployed in the Venice Lagoon in identification for the final operation of the device is
2012, where the model tests results were validated by ongoing within Saipem. A full farm installed in the Strait
the real operation data collected in situ. Currently of Messina could provide as much as 161 GWh of
Saipem is involved with SeaPower on a project that will energy per year. The clean energy produced could be
see the installation of a 300kw device in the Strait of used both for household needs and for industrial
Messina in 2020. The Strait of Messina is an optimum purposes, such as for ports in the area.

Dario Giudice

Dario Giudice has an MA in Naval Architecture and Paris. He has been working with Saipem since 2004
Marine Engineering from the University of Genoa and an performing complex installation analysis of various
MBA in Oil & Gas Management from Robert Gordon subsea facilities, in both shallow and deep water. He
University, Aberdeen Business School. He also joined the XSIGHT Renewables & Green Technologies
successively completed the major module in Energy on product line at the end of 2017, where he works on
the MBA course held at the Haute Ecole Commerciale, ocean energy and offshore wind energy.

IndustrIal Plants - May 2020
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