Glacial melt water in Greenland - A renewable resource for the future
Abstract
Glacial melt water in Greenland can be used as a renewable resource for generating electricity (a yearly estimate of 60-115 GW), and it can serve as a supplementary source for drinking and irrigation, metallurgical processing, and the manufacturing of liquid hydrogen as fuel. Southern Greenland is particularly suited for this melt water hydropower project, having high precipitation and summer temperatures, large quantities of melt water, natural 'nunatak' dams, and coastal ranges with steep gradients. Transportation of the generated energy is proposed in the form of sea cables and overland transmission lines, hydrogen gas pipelines, and tankers for liquid hydrogen transport. A hypothetical glacial power station is schematically illustrated, and production costs are calculated. The glacial melt project would serve as an economical source of energy with minimal damage to the environment.
- Publication:
-
International Journal of Energy Research
- Pub Date:
- June 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1002/er.4440050207
- Bibcode:
- 1981IJER....5..183A
- Keywords:
-
- Energy Technology;
- Fresh Water;
- Glaciers;
- Hydroelectric Power Stations;
- Technological Forecasting;
- Water Resources;
- Energy Conversion Efficiency;
- Greenland;
- Hydrogen-Based Energy;
- Energy Production and Conversion