Automation | SaltPower

Intelligent automation enables commercial production of breakthrough energy technology

Init delivered the automation system for SaltPower's first clean energy plant based on osmotic energy.

 

SaltPower – a Danish-based innovative clean energy company – has developed the world’s first commercial energy production technology based on osmotic energy. Specifically, SaltPower use salt water from the underground to produce clean and CO2-free energy.

 

The company has a full-scale test facility in Sønderborg, and since 2019, the company has been working with Danish salt manufacturer, DanskSalt/Nobian, with the purpose of testing its osmotic power installation. Following initial testing, SaltPower successfully established its first plant prototype in DanskSalt/Nobian’s factory in Mariager in 2021.

 

SaltPower_IMG_7654-2 Compressed

Aspiration

Automating a first-of-its-kind energy plant

In 2022, SaltPower began the construction of its first full-scale energy supply facility. Notably, the new 100kW plant will supply DanskSalt/Nobian’s Hvornum facility with enough electric energy to operate the salt-brine supply for the factory entirely on renewable energy.

 

The plant, which produces electrical energy from the osmotic pressure in a saltwater solution, is the first of its kind in the world. And of course, a first-of-its-kind facility requires a first-of-its-kind automation solution.

 

Accordingly, SaltPower entrusted Init with the task of developing an automation system to enable effective operation for the breakthrough technology.

SaltPower produces green energy through osmosis

Solution

Close collaboration & a fail safe control system

The collaboration with Init started already in 2021, even before the construction of the new plant began. Init’s engineers and SaltPower’s development team joined forces to develop an automation solution that would support commercial manufacturing of clean energy based on osmosis.

 

After exploring different possibilities, the team decided on a Siemens fail safe PLC system. Together with the PLC system, the frequency converters’ interconnected direct current (DC) bus make it possible to control the system in the most energy-efficient way.

 

What’s more, the technical content of the project was quite extensive, because the inverters in the project deliver regenerated energy back onto the common DC bus, placing severe demands for the design of switchboards and electrical installations.

 

Ultimately, the control system is a result of close collaboration between Init’s software developers and SaltPower’s engineers.

SaltPower_PMI solution_web

The collaboration with Init has worked flawlessly and the engineers involved have shown great enthusiasm and proactivity in the project.

Lars Storm Pedersen, CEO at SaltPower

Result

Effective operations & reduced energy consumption

The first-of-its-kind green energy production facility was successfully commissioned in 2023, and has since then helped DanskSalt/Nobian reduce energy consumption.

 

Now that they have a well-proven and fully automated facility concept for full-scale energy production, SaltPower is truly ready to commercialise its breakthrough technology.

 

The process of developing the automation solution has indeed been an interesting journey, and the result is a true testament that the best solutions are the ones we build together.

Osmosis plant
Lars Kirkegaard

Building an automation system for a new technology is always a fun challenge, but when it also pertains to an advanced technology that facilitates sustainable development, we are particularly proud and excited.

 

We thank SaltPower for the teamwork and hope to continue our collaboration on future projects.

Lars Kirkegaard, Business Unit Director at Init

Facts about the plant:

  • The actual plant can produce approximately 100 kW hydraulic energy
  • The actual plant will eventually replace 1 high-pressure pump at DanskSalt/Nobian
  • The actual plant uses 100 membranes, all of which are installed in pressure vessels

Reach out

for more information

Lars Kirkegaard

Business Unit Director

+45 5311 2913

[email protected]

Init Svendborg, Denmark

Init Vrå, Denmark

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