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Statkraft has finally opened the first ever-built osmotic power prototype. This was inaugurated 24 November 2009 and performed by Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.

Osmotic power is a very new concept of generating green energy. Energy is produced through the natural processes when fresh water is mixed with seawater. Starkraft has conducted research in the field of osmotic power for more than a decade. This new way of producing energy is totally eco-friendly and emission-free. It has even been predicted that osmotic power can in the near future account for a substantial supply of energy.

According to StatKraft CEO & President Bård Mikkelsen, the ability to anticipate climate challenges might soon be a reality. The use of technology where electricity can be generated from simply mixing water can make the future much greener.

Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Riis-Johansen, is warmly delighted with the progresses Statkraft has produced by opening the gate for the first-ever osmotic power prototype in Norway and by a Norwegian firm. CEO of WWF Norway, Rasmus Hansson, added that investment in renewable sources of energy is a sustainable solution to generate green energy.

However, osmotic power prototype will have a restricted production capacity. The main aim of the plant is for testing and further development. This will hopefully, enable statkraft to improve and perfection the technology making it commercial with a few years from now.

An estimate of the capacity of energy that can be produced from osmotic power at a global perspective is around 1, 600 to 1,700 TWh per annum. This accounts for half of the total electricity consumption in the European Union. Moreover, this technology can practically be installed wherever fresh water mixes with seawaters. The technology neither creates noise pollution nor emission of gases.

Statkrafts is already the biggest renewable energy corporation in Europe. It uses a range of renewable sources from hydropower, gas power, district heating and wind power. It is also a great investor in the development of new renewable sources of energy such as solar power, marine energy, and osmotic power as well as other inventive green solutions.

The research in osmotic power has been conducted for 12 years by statkraft. The first focus began in 1997. Over years, this technology has had international interest. Numerous of international guests assisted the opening of the osmotic power prototype in Norway.