Japan’s Dual Energy Revolution: Can saltwater power and air-driven mobility challenge lithium dependance?
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Japan is making waves—literally and figuratively—in the global race for sustainable energy. In the span of just weeks, two radically different technologies have emerged from the country’s research labs and engineering workshops: a full-scale osmotic power plant in Fukuoka that turns saltwater into electricity, and a compressed-air vehicle prototype that reortedly runs without fuel, batteries, or emissions.
Together, they signal Japan’s bold pivot toward clean energy systems that challenge conventional thinking and offer scalable, low-carbon alternatives to fossil fuels and lithium-dependent technologies.
Fukuoka’s Osmotic Power Plant: Electricity from Saltwater
On August 5, Japan launched its first osmotic power facility in Fukuoka, becoming only the second country after Denmark to harness energy from the meeting of seawater and freshwater. The plant, operated by the Fukuoka District Waterworks Agency, uses pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) to generate around 880,000 kilowatt-hours annually—enough to power a desalination plant and roughly 220 households.
Unlike solar or wind, osmotic power is weather-independent, carbon-free, and continuous, making it a promising candidate for base-load renewable energy. The system relies on the natural flow of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane, creating pressure that drives turbines. The freshwater is sourced from treated sewage, while the saltwater comes from concentrated brine—a clever reuse of desalination byproducts.
Experts like Dr. Ali Altaee from the University of Technology Sydney and Professor Sandra Kentish from the University of Melbourne have praised the plant’s design, noting its potential to scale and its strategic importance for resource-scarce nations.
Ku:Rin: The Car That Runs on Air
Meanwhile, Japan’s automotive sector is revisiting a forgotten marvel: the Ku:Rin, a compressed-air vehicle developed by Toyota Industries Corporation. Originally unveiled in 2011, the Ku:Rin reached speeds of 129 km/h (80 mph) using nothing but air stored in a pressurized tank. The vehicle emitted no carbon, made no noise, and required no fuel or battery.
Though the Ku:Rin never entered mass production—limited by its short 2-mile range—it sparked renewed interest in compressed-air systems. Today, hybrid applications are emerging, such as in Sweden, where braking energy is stored as compressed air and reused for acceleration, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Compressed air is now being explored as a low-cost, clean supplement to electric and combustion engines. With lithium supply chains under pressure and hydrogen fuel cells still costly, air-powered components offer a compelling alternative for short-range mobility and industrial use.
A Broader Shift in Energy Thinking
Japan’s dual innovations reflect a broader trend: the search for non-traditional energy sources that are clean, resilient, and locally viable. Osmotic power taps into abundant water resources, while compressed air reimagines propulsion without combustion or rare minerals.
As climate pressures mount and energy systems evolve, these technologies could play a vital role in reshaping how we power cities and move through them. Whether it’s the silent hum of an air-driven car or the invisible pressure of saltwater generating electricity, Japan’s latest breakthroughs remind us that the future of energy may lie in forces we’ve long overlooked.
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/runs-only-on-air-japans-invention/19578/#
Illustration Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License
English: This image illustrates the basic principle of a typical osmosis power plant
Date: 9 November 2017
Author: Wikilakz