Marine renewable energy sources for desalination, generating freshwater and lithium

Paper in proceeding, 2019

A novel concept is presented on lithium extraction of desalination from marine renewable energy sources. The wave-and marine current energy converters designed at Uppsala University in Sweden are evaluated as potential drivers of desalination processes, off-grid, for both local lithium extraction and freshwater production. Also, aqueous mining for other minerals is briefly discussed. Calculations, estimating the freshwater and lithium production from desalination plants powered by marine renewable energy sources, are presented. It is estimated that a medium-sized desalination plant, producing 7500 m3/day, could also generate 1.28 kg lithium daily, utilizing reverse osmosis desalination and electrodialysis, powered by marine energy converter parks. To the best of our knowledge, this concept has never previously been suggested in literature.