{"id":1628233,"date":"2022-08-31T12:17:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T16:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1628233"},"modified":"2022-08-31T12:17:59","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T16:17:59","slug":"how-to-turn-desalination-waste-from-burden-to-profit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-to-turn-desalination-waste-from-burden-to-profit\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Turn Desalination Waste From Burden To Profit"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-to-turn-desalination-waste-from-burden-to-profit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1628233&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>California has <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/08\/10\/the-american-west-is-running-out-of-water-will-california-desalinate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">two desalination plants<\/a> coming up for a vote by the state Coastal Commission this fall which will decide the projects\u2019 fate as the West Coast suffers its worst drought in 1,200 years.<\/p>\n<p>In May, the commission unanimously <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/05\/28\/after-nixing-50-million-gallon-a-day-desalination-plant-california-demands-residents-use-less-water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rejected<\/a> a $1.4 billion-dollar plant that would have offered 50 million gallons of precious potable water daily to a region which, by nature\u2019s standards, should not even exist as the metropolis it is today.<\/p>\n<p>State regulators raised concerns over risks to marine ecosystems and \u201cenvironmental justice\u201d as reasons to vote down the massive water project in their <a href=\"https:\/\/documents.coastal.ca.gov\/reports\/2022\/5\/Th9a10a\/Th9a10a-5-2022-staffreport.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Environmental hazards, however, could be diminished by proper mitigation strategies including some that could turn plant waste products into lucrative commodities. <\/p>\n<h2>A Salty Solution<\/h2>\n<p>The Israel Salt Company, for example, has struck a deal with the Mekorot desalination plant in the southern port city of Eilat to make high-quality table salt from the leftover sodium.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA brine discharge line and other discharge facilities are not needed,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/244144264_Salt_production_by_the_evaporation_of_SWRO_brine_in_Eilat_a_success_story\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote<\/a> a pair of researchers in 2007, adding \u201cnon-homogenous salinity distribution profile of the sea is prevented, leaving the sea fauna and flora at this beautiful resort city untouched.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ten years later, a <a href=\"https:\/\/data.gov.au\/dataset\/ds-dga-8301871f-6e24-41d2-9426-875d4d163539\/details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study<\/a> from the Australian government found in the absence of such an arrangement, excess salt runoff can be carefully dropped into the open ocean without significant changes in the ocean\u2019s salinity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe influence of discharge for desalination plant can be neglected in terms of any environmental impact to the aquatic flora and fauna species,\u201d researchers reported. \u201cSome of the sampling evidences for some fish species indicate that these fish are not very sensitive to the salinity fluctuation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In other words, when released properly, leftover sodium will have minimal impact, if any, on local marine habitats, concerns about which were a primary reason the California Coastal Commission denied L.A. residents under <a href=\"https:\/\/dpw.lacounty.gov\/wwd\/web\/conservation\/WaterRestriction.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">drought restrictions<\/a> since June access to abundant water.<\/p>\n<p>Innovation in desalination technology has also opened the door to turning plant byproducts into other saleable assets. <\/p>\n<h2>Clean Chemicals <\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41929-018-0218-y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According<\/a> to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), concentrated desalination brine can be converted into chemicals with market value. <\/p>\n<p>In a 2019 report, a team of scientists outlined how direct electrosynthesis of desalination waste can produce sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid, both of which are also useful ingredients in plant operations themselves. <\/p>\n<p>Sodium hydroxide, also known as \u201ccaustic soda,\u201d can be used to pretreat incoming seawater and lower its acidity, allowing membrane filters to last longer. Plants creating their own sodium hydroxide would no longer need to purchase the chemical from a third-party seller when the product can be made onsite. In fact, plants could make so much of it that excess products could be sold on the open market as another stream of revenue. <\/p>\n<p>Hydrochloric acid from recycled brine discharge can also be used as a cleaning chemical inside the plant, or can be exploited to produce hydrogen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/eere\/fuelcells\/hydrogen-fuel-basics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hydrogen<\/a> is an emissions-free fuel, the only byproduct of which is water when consumed in a fuel cell to generate electricity. <\/p>\n<p>Both hydrochloric acid and hydrogen are lucrative byproducts that could be sold off by plant operators in addition to excess sodium hydroxide. <\/p>\n<h2>Trigeneration: One System To Produce Water, Electricity, And Hydrogen<\/h2>\n<p>A 2018 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1359431118317575\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paper<\/a> from a trio of scientists from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Ontario outlined how desalination plants may be configured to produce freshwater and hydrogen when exploiting \u201cwaste heat\u201d from other sources. While researchers used a glass-melting furnace as an example of a heat source in their paper, nuclear power plants also produce substantial \u201cwaste heat\u201d with the potential to be integrated with desalination processes. <\/p>\n<p>In other words, one system can be configured to produce abundant freshwater, electricity, and hydrogen all without releasing emissions. <\/p>\n<p>Moreover, while the Democrats\u2019 latest colossal spending package dubiously named the \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d heavily subsidizes renewable energy programs, the legislation also offers some handsome subsidies for hydrogen, which can be produced from nuclear power for as little as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/engineering\/hydrogen-production-cost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">half<\/a> the cost of wind and solar. One site that could potentially benefit from the federal subsidies is currently at risk of being shut down.  <\/p>\n<h2>Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant<\/h2>\n<p>On Sunday, California lawmakers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-08-29\/newsom-introduces-bill-to-keep-last-california-nuclear-site-open\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proposed legislation<\/a> to keep the nuclear power plant at Diablo Canyon open as the state struggles to convert the power grid from reliance on fossil fuels to intermittent wind and solar. Legislators will vote on the proposal Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is the last one to remain open in the state of nearly 40 million forced to import about a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.ca.gov\/data-reports\/energy-almanac\/california-electricity-data\/california-electrical-energy-generation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">third<\/a> of its electricity from its neighbors. The bill would offer a five-year extension to the plant, which is currently scheduled to go offline by 2025. The plant remains California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/electricity\/data\/browser\/#\/plant\/6099?freq=A&amp;start=2016&amp;end=2018&amp;ctype=linechart&amp;ltype=pin&amp;columnchart=ELEC.PLANT.GEN.6099-ALL-ALL.A&amp;linechart=ELEC.PLANT.GEN.6099-ALL-ALL.A&amp;maptype=0&amp;pin=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">largest<\/a> single source of electricity which also comes emissions-free. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShellenbergerMD\/status\/1557519708756348929?s=20&amp;t=YFIGep_KV__5DPjcvVUueg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Initial plans<\/a> at Diablo Canyon reportedly included six reactors as opposed to just the two standing today. The extra four were meant to enable the plant to integrate operations for desalination processes, allowing Californians to capitalize on an abundant source of water in a parched region.<\/p>\n<p> A joint <a href=\"https:\/\/energy.stanford.edu\/sites\/g\/files\/sbiybj9971\/f\/diablocanyonnuclearplant_report_11.19.21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study<\/a> from Stanford and MIT researchers published last year concluded extending the lifetime of the nuclear plant to 2035 would cut state power sector carbon emissions by more than 10 percent compared to 2017, and strengthen an increasingly fragile regional power grid from rolling blackouts experienced in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, \u201coperating Diablo Canyon as a polygeneration facility \u2014 with coordinated and varying production of electricity, desalinated water, and clean hydrogen,\u201d they wrote, \u201ccould provide multiple services to California, including grid reliability as needed, and further increase the value of the Diablo Canyon electricity plant by nearly 50 [percent].\u201d <\/p>\n<h2>Environmentalist Obstruction<\/h2>\n<p>California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom has been a <a href=\"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/newsletters\/whatmatters\/2022\/05\/diablo-canyon-power-plant-desalination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">late<\/a> proponent of both efforts to expand state desalination operations and the campaign to keep the nuclear plant at Diablo Canyon open.<\/p>\n<p>Former gubernatorial candidate and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harpercollins.com\/products\/apocalypse-never-michael-shellenberger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">environmental author<\/a> Michael Shellenberger, however, <a href=\"https:\/\/michaelshellenberger.substack.com\/p\/why-gavin-newsom-is-creating-a-water\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">places blame<\/a> for hostile conditions for state development at the governor\u2019s feet, where Californians held hostage by radical environmentalists continually brace for routine blackouts and endless water restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe has failed to build a single new large water project, despite the fact that California voters in 2014 passed a $2.7 billion water bond to pay for them,\u201d Shellenberger <a href=\"https:\/\/michaelshellenberger.substack.com\/p\/why-gavin-newsom-is-creating-a-water\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote<\/a> in an April Substack post. <\/p>\n<p>In an interview with The Federalist, Shellenberger criticized Newsom for being captive to the environmental lobby and failing to apply meaningful pressure to state regulators for approval of the Huntington Beach desalination plant this spring. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe governor could force it but wants the support of those groups and doesn\u2019t want to upset [them],\u201d Shellenberger said. \u201cHe appointed the members of the Coastal Commission. He needs to muscle them into doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Big Green environmental groups from the Sierra Club to the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), Shellenberger added, are continuing to oppose desalination and nuclear while masquerading as crusaders for the planet. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe people want it, it\u2019s popular,\u201d Shellenberger said of desalination. \u201cIt\u2019s just special interests in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<p>\n  Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at Tristan@thefederalist.com.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-comments mt-30 mt-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-comments-container d-flex flex-column align-items-center py-30\">\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"110\" height=\"106\" src=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fdrlst-mark.svg\" class=\"img-fluid mb-20\" alt=\"The Federalist logo eagle mark\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p>Unlock commenting by joining the Federalist Community.<\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/plans\/pricing\/\" class=\"btn btn-on-white\">Subscribe<\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California has two desalination plants coming up for a vote by the state Coastal Commission this fall which will decide the projects\u2019 fate as the West Coast suffers its worst<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":494,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1628233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1628233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/494"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1628233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1628233\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1628233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1628233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1628233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}