Sense Question:

What is the worldwide potential of producing electricity from salinity gradients in water (i.e. rivers flowing in seas)?

Relevance of this question:

Salinity gradient power is potentially a clean source of electricity. The technology development is now in a stage that salinity power plants should be considered serious alternatives to fossil fuel-fired power plants in the future. The theoretical potential of this source of energy is large. However, it is less clear what the technical and practical potentials are. To assess these, an evaluation of world rivers is needed addressing physical, chemical and practical characteristics of these rivers.