Rising Venice

Transforming Sinking Venice into Rising Renewables

Abstract

Venetian sea levels have been a damaging threat for decades. The problem is currently being looked at through an incomplete lens. The problem of all-powerful water is actually the solution, it just needs to be approached differently. That is what this proposal does - harnesses the problem into a renewable energy solution.

Instead of blocking the water at all costs, utilize it for all its worth. Water is the world’s greatest resource and during times where billions of individuals lack access, Venice is avoiding it. This will be done by creating channels as hydroelectric funnels for the water flowing in and out of Venice Lagoon’s 3 Adriatic sea gates (see diagram below). This proposal utilizes the power of the sea as a substantial renewable energy source, an input to desalinate seawater into potable water and even an avenue to create a highly bioavailable supplement to tackle anemia globally.

There are two major factors contributing to Venice becoming the next Atlantis and a distant underwater metropolis discussed in history books. One is the rising sea levels, the second is the actual sinking of the city due to tectonic plate shifts caused by groundwater drilling of potable water from the nearby port of Marghera. This proposal addresses the first by controlling the flow of water into Venice’s waterways through hydroelectric channels. The second is controlled via two mechanisms - one direct and one indirect. Water directly from Venetian sea level will be extracted and transformed into potable drinking water via hydro powered desalination. This subsequently eliminates the need for groundwater drilling in Marghera, which eliminates that cause of Venice ground level sinking entirely.

The revenue generating opportunity this creates for Venice is substantial. They can sell this much needed nutritional supplement to millions of Italians and global citizens. The global vitamin C, iron and Vit B12 industry is $7.27B USD and $1.13B USD in Europe. This replicable model also is aimed at providing potable water and anemic supplements to countries around the world, including sub-Saharan Africa whose population suffers the highest rates of sickle cell anemia (according to WHO, 70% of global cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa) and lack of potable water access (42% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to potable water - an estimated 490 million people).

In addition to delivering potable water to 490 million individuals, it can be utilized as a high revenue generating machine. This solution can generate >$263M USD annually in revenue from only 3 cities and 100 farms in sub-Saharan Africa.

In summary, we have created a replicable model that combats rising sea levels, creates potable water, eliminates the need for underground water drilling and generates a leading bioavailable form of combating anemia through renewable energy.

There are 3 channels allowing the passage of water into the Lagoon of Venice from the Adriatic Sea as shown in Figure 1

Hydroelectricity

MOSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) is the most recent solution of controlling the sea level around Venice that came with a price tag of €5.5 billion. Venice’s current method is focused on rebutting the power of the sea instead of harnessing it for advantage. These channels should instead be transformed into hydroelectric energy producing waterways. This allows passage of watercraft in and out through a lock and key mechanism and generates a tremendous amount of energy.

Energy Generation

It's difficult to give an accurate estimate without detailed technical and engineering analysis of the specific proposal. The electricity generation of a hydroelectric dam is affected by a number of factors, including the head (height difference between the water level above and below the dam), the flow rate of the water, and the size and efficiency of the turbines used to generate electricity.

Using these figures, it is estimated that the potential energy generation from a dam built across the three inlets to the Venetian Lagoon (Lido, Malamocco, and Chioggia) could generate up to 600-700 GWh of electricity per year.

To put this in perspective, according to a 2015 report by the Venice Municipality, the city's electricity consumption was estimated to be around 700 GWh per year and approximately 1,400 GWh of electricity in 2019. In other words, if this solution was implemented in 2015, it would have powered all of Venice.

This along with other forms of renewable energy can put Venice as a self-sustainable city with the opportunity to sell excess energy as profit.

Combatting Underground Drilling of Marghera Port - Tectonic Plate Movement Resolved

Another issue contributing to the sinking of Venice is tectonic plate movement. A major contributor to this is the pumping of groundwater in the nearby port Marghera. Marghera drills underground and pumps water to provide Venice with clean drinking water. Eliminate this tectonic plate causing sinking while simultaneously alleviating the rising sea levels from incoming water through the 3 Adriatic channels and the problem is solved. This proposal does exactly that.

The first solution replaces the drilling with a self-sustainable source of potable water. A desalination plant will be created to provide the entire population of Venice with potable drinking water. It will be powered by hydroelectricity, which brings us to the solution for the second problem. The flow of incoming water from the Adriatic Sea is controlled by a lock and key hydroelectric waterway.

This proposal dives into the inner workings of these solutions, the economics behind the proposal and the global scalability, including how it will deliver potable water to 490M people currently without and cure anemia for 70% of the global population currently suffering from it. The scalable replicability of this solution allows a fast-tracked method of surpassing the 490 million and 70% respectively and delivering potable water and anemia-curing nutrition to 100% of the population.

Previously, cost was the main detriment to such a solution. This model highlights how these results occur profitably. Generating hundreds of millions of dollars every single year.

Desalination

Desalination technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are many successful desalination plants operating around the world, particularly in areas with limited access to freshwater. However, desalination still faces several challenges that have prevented its widespread adoption as a solution to global water scarcity. Some of these challenges include:

• Cost: Desalination can be an expensive process, particularly when it is powered by fossil fuels. Although the cost of desalination has decreased in recent years, it is still higher than the cost of most other water supply options.

• Energy consumption: Desalination requires a lot of energy, particularly when it is powered by fossil fuels. This can lead to high greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change.

• Environmental impact: Desalination can have negative impacts on the marine environment, particularly if it involves discharging concentrated brine back into the ocean.

• Maintenance and operation: Desalination plants require ongoing maintenance and operation to ensure that they operate effectively and efficiently.

Methods of Desalination:

1. Before we dive into the solution, let’s take a step back and look at desalination from a broader lens. Desalination is the process of removing salt and other minerals from seawater to make it suitable for drinking or other uses. There are several methods for desalinating seawater, including:

2. Reverse osmosis (RO): This method involves passing seawater through a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through but blocks salt and other impurities. The pressure is applied to push the water through the membrane, and the salt is left behind.

3. Multi-stage flash distillation (MSF): This method involves heating seawater to create steam, which is then condensed to form fresh water. The steam is generated by flashing the seawater into low-pressure chambers at different stages, causing the water to vaporize and separate from the salt.

4. Multi-effect distillation (MED): This method is similar to MSF, but instead of flashing the seawater into different chambers, it is evaporated in multiple stages using heat and steam. The steam produced in each stage is used to heat the seawater in the next stage, resulting in a more energy-efficient process.

5. Electrodialysis (ED): This method involves passing seawater through a series of ion-exchange membranes that selectively remove salt and other minerals based on their charge. A voltage is applied to the membranes, causing the ions to migrate through the membrane and be removed from the seawater.

6. All of these methods require significant amounts of energy and equipment to operate, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of desalination method will depend on factors such as the scale of the operation, the quality of the source water, and the availability of energy and resources.

7. Among the desalination methods, reverse osmosis (RO) is generally considered to be the least energy-intensive method for desalinating seawater. This is because the RO process requires only a relatively low pressure to force the water through the semipermeable membrane, compared to the high temperature and pressure required for distillation methods.

8. In addition to its lower energy requirements, RO also has other advantages over other desalination methods, including lower capital costs, higher water recovery rates, and a smaller environmental footprint. For these reasons, RO has become the most widely used desalination technology worldwide.

9. Energy Requirements: a typical small-scale RO system designed to produce 1,000 gallons of fresh water per day may require around 3-4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per 1,000 gallons of water produced. A larger plant designed to produce millions of gallons of water per day would require correspondingly more energy.

Reverse Osmosis

Among the desalination methods, reverse osmosis (RO) is generally considered to be the least energy-intensive method for desalinating seawater. This is because the RO process requires only a relatively low pressure to force the water through the semipermeable membrane, compared to the high temperature and pressure required for distillation methods.

In addition to its lower energy requirements, RO also has other advantages over other desalination methods, including lower capital costs, higher water recovery rates, and a smaller environmental footprint. For these reasons, RO has become the most widely used desalination technology worldwide.

The amount of hydroelectricity required for a reverse osmosis desalination plant depends on several factors, including the size of the plant, the efficiency of the RO membranes, the salinity of the feed water, and the recovery rate of the system.

In general, the energy requirements for an RO plant are proportional to the amount of water that needs to be treated and the salinity of the feed water. The higher the salinity and the larger the volume of water, the more energy will be required.

As an example, a typical small-scale RO system designed to produce 1,000 gallons of fresh water per day may require around 3-4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per 1,000 gallons of water produced. A larger plant designed to produce millions of gallons of water per day would require correspondingly more energy.

The source of the electricity used to power the RO plant can vary depending on the location and available resources. In areas with access to hydroelectric power, it may be possible to use this renewable energy source to power the desalination plant. However, in many cases, conventional power sources such as natural gas or coal-fired power plants may be used.

Economics

The cost estimate of a desalination plant that can produce around 100,000 cubic meters (26.4 million gallons) of potable water per day can range from $100 million to $500 million, depending on multiple factors such as the technology used, the size of the plant, the source of energy used to power the plant, and the cost of labor and materials.

The operational cost of a desalination plant can vary depending on factors such as the size of the plant, the technology used, the source of energy used to power the plant, the cost of labor and maintenance, and the cost of materials and chemicals needed for the desalination process. As an example, the operational cost of the Carlsbad desalination plant in California, which produces around 190,000 cubic meters (50 million gallons) of potable water per day, is reported to be around $1,000 per acre-foot of water produced, or roughly $0.83 per cubic meter ($3.15 per 1,000 gallons).

Venice’s daily requirement of 1.3 million gallons/day would cost approximately: $4,095/day. For an entire population of 260,000 people, that comes out to $0.01575 or about 1.5 pennies. Taxing people $1/day for free potable water to support this project results in revenue of $95M USD (a net profit of $93.5M). With a match from the United Nations to achieve their Sustainable Development Goal 6 can be brought on as a partner to match the $1/day for clean water for another $95M in revenue for funding of this project.

In 2021, Italy spent $32.01B USD on its military budget, which was 1.52% of GDP. At $400M in construction costs, the government would only need to take 1.2% of its military budget or 0.001% of its total GDP to pay for one of these plants. This would repay itself within 4 years on the $1/day tax alone, let alone other grants and philanthropic funding Italy would receive.

Sub-Saharan Africa will be a main target of these plants and will cost an estimated 35% less due to more affordable inputs from the list above, especially labor. This comes to a total of $260M USD. Further reductions can total an additional 50% when renewable energy, scalability, site selection, financing and energy efficient design are optimized. Resulting in $130M. A one-time cost of just over $100M can generate a plant for enough potable water for 260M people. Additional ongoing costs of just $4,000/day which can be halved due to labor and maintenance costs - $2000/day for 260M people or approximately half of a penny per day of ongoing costs to deliver water to the population of sub-Saharan Africa.

Given 490M people in sub-Saharan African are without potable water, this requires 2 of these units. Only 2 units at ~$122M USD each (we will adjustraise proportionally from the $130M calculated above to adjust for the extra 30M individuals) can provide enough potable water for all of sub-Saharan Africa. In other words, deliver 42% of the world’s population potable water. Previously 42% of the world’s population was without potable water. Now after a few hundred million, that is resolved. Here we are spending $9.8B on the world's most expensive military vehicle - the CVN-78. For 2.4% of ONE military vehicle, we have delivered potable water to 490 million individuals who previously lacked access to that basic necessity.

There are other logistics costs such as transportation and logistics. This, however, is no different than current methods of water distribution that already exist.

Instead of 2 large plants at $122M each, there can be any multiple of plants constructed. This proposal advises 100 smaller plants at $1.2M each. This is a tiny fraction of most sub-Saharan African country’s GDP’s and even on-third of Burundi’s ($3.6B in 2020), which is the smallest GDP of the 46 sub-Saharan African nations.

The sub-Saharan African coastline starts at the westernmost point of the African continent, which is the Cape Verde Peninsula, and continues along the western coast of Africa, around the southern tip of Africa, and up the eastern coast of Africa to Somalia. The coastline of sub-Saharan Africa includes countries such as Senegal, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya, among others.

This coastline stretches 18,950 miles (30,500 km). If there was one Reverse Osmosis desalination plant constructed every 100 miles, that would result in 190 plants constructed. The cost per plant of this would be $642,000 USD. This strikes the optimal balance of geographic coverage and size of plant for optimal unit economics of construction. $642,000 USD every 100 miles covered by all countries. If we distribute this along the 46 countries that are in sub-Saharan Africa that is $2.65M USD per country. This will be distributed according to population at $5.5/year ($0.015/day * 365 days) per capita. Taking the smallest per Capita GDP in sub-Saharan Africa of Burundi (is a tiny fraction of any sub-Saharan African country’s GDP - $261 per capita that is still just 2% of the per capita GDP. If we look at the largest GDP per capita of those 46 countries, Equatorial Guinea at $11,547 USD. This results in 0.047% per capita. This shows the affordability of this venture even for the poorest of nations in the world. This per capita GDP data is according to the World Bank.

There are several ways to reduce the construction cost of a reverse osmosis desalination plant:

1. Site Selection: Choosing a site that has low energy costs, is near a water source, and has minimal environmental impact can reduce the overall cost of the project.

2. Scale: Building a plant that is appropriately sized to meet the needs of the community, rather than overbuilding, can reduce construction costs.

3. Material Selection: Using materials that are readily available and cost-effective can help to reduce the overall cost of the project. For example, using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes instead of steel pipes can save money.

4. Energy Efficiency: Incorporating energy-efficient technologies, such as energy recovery devices, can help to reduce energy consumption and operating costs over the life of the plant.

5. Design: A well-designed plant can be more efficient and require less equipment, resulting in lower construction costs.

6. Innovation: Using innovative technologies and approaches can help to reduce costs. For example, using solar-powered desalination systems can significantly reduce energy costs.

7. Financing: Finding innovative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, can help to reduce the upfront cost of building a desalination plant.

8. Overall, reducing construction costs requires careful planning, selection of appropriate technologies, and a commitment to finding innovative solutions.

Additional Revenue Streams

Plants can be scaled and used for profitability. According to a report titled "African Water Resource Database: Technical Manual - Hydrology and Water Resources," the price of water in sub-Saharan Africa can range from $0.10 to $20.00 per cubic meter, depending on the location and the source of water. This is compared to the $0.83 per cubic meter cost of the reverse osmosis generated water.

A 2016 report by the African Development Bank Group listed various examples of high water tariffs in Sub-Saharan Africa, including $20 per cubic meter for commercial and industrial users in Senegal and $15 per cubic meter for high-end residential users in Nigeria.

According to a 2014 report by the African Development Bank, the size of the middle class in Senegal is estimated to be around 20% of the population, or roughly 3 million people. It's worth noting that this includes both the upper and lower middle class, so the number of people specifically in the upper and upper-middle class would be smaller. Taking just 5M people in Dakar alone (a fraction of the total population of Senegal), this would result in a savings of $96M annually. As of 2021, the estimated population of the upper and upper-middle class in Lagos, Nigeria is around 2.5 million people. For Abuja, Nigeria, the estimated population of the upper and upper-middle class is around 500,000 people. For these two cities alone, this results in a savings of $42.5M by switching to the reverse osmotic desalinated water.

High value crops such as fruits, vegetables, or flowers grown on large commercial farms cost up to $5 per cubic meter. This would result in a net profit of $4.17/cub meter. According to a study published by the International Food Policy Research Institute, the average size of a commercial farm in Sub-Saharan Africa is about 20 hectares.The typical fruit crop farm uses 15,000 cubic meters of water per hectare, which results in a savings of $1.25M USD per commercial farm.

Taking just 100 farms and three cities, these desalination plants provide a savings of $263.5M USD annually. This provides insight into the scalable savings of this proposal and how quickly each of these desalination plants can become profitable.

Water Requirements to Hydrate Venice

The population of Venice is approximately 260,000 people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the minimum water requirement per person per day is around 20-50 liters (5.3-13.2 gallons) for basic household and personal needs, such as drinking, cooking, and sanitation.

Assuming a minimum water requirement of 20 liters per person per day, the total water requirement for the population of Venice would be:

260,000 people x 20 liters/person/day = 5.2 million liters/day

Converting this to gallons, we get:

5.2 million liters/day x 0.264 gallons/liter = 1.37 million gallons/day

Therefore, approximately 1.37 million gallons of water would be needed to satisfy the population of Venice for a day, assuming a minimum water requirement of 20 liters per person per day. However, this estimate may vary depending on factors such as climate, water usage patterns, and conservation measures.

Energy Requirements to Hydrate Venice

The amount of kilowatt hours (kWh) required to desalinate 1 gallon of seawater through reverse osmosis (RO) depends on several factors, including the salinity of the feed water, the efficiency of the RO membranes, and the recovery rate of the system.

However, as a rough estimate, it can be assumed that an RO desalination plant requires around 3-5 kWh per 1,000 gallons of water produced.

Using the estimate from the previous answer that approximately 1.37 million gallons of water would be needed to feed the population of Venice for a day, we can calculate the total energy requirement for an RO plant:

1.37 million gallons/day x 3 kWh/1,000 gallons = 4,110 kWh/day

Therefore, an RO desalination plant capable of producing 1.37 million gallons of fresh water per day to feed the population of Venice would require approximately 4,110 kWh of electricity per day, assuming a typical energy requirement of 3 kWh per 1,000 gallons of water produced.

What does this mean in terms of Hydro-Electrical Plant?

Assuming that the RO desalination plant is powered entirely by hydroelectricity, the amount of electricity required would depend on the efficiency of the hydroelectric system and the specific site conditions.

As a rough estimate, the average efficiency of a hydroelectric power plant is around 90%, which means that for every 1 kWh of mechanical energy generated by the water turbine, approximately 0.9 kWh of electrical energy is produced.

Using the energy requirement of 4,110 kWh/day calculated in the previous answer, we can calculate the mechanical energy required from the hydroelectric system as follows:

Mechanical energy required = Electrical energy required / Efficiency of hydroelectric system

Mechanical energy required = 4,110 kWh/day / 0.9

Mechanical energy required = 4,566.67 kWh/day

Therefore, to power an RO desalination plant capable of producing 1.37 million gallons of fresh water per day for the population of Venice using hydroelectricity, approximately 4,566.67 kWh of mechanical energy would be required from the hydroelectric system per day.

The size of the hydroelectric power plant required to generate 4,566.67 kWh of mechanical energy per day would depend on several factors, including the head (the height difference between the intake and outflow of water) and flow rate of the water source, the efficiency of the hydroelectric turbines, and the specific site conditions.

As a rough estimate, the power output of a hydroelectric turbine can be calculated using the following formula:

Power (in kW) = Flow rate (in cubic meters per second) x Head (in meters) x Efficiency

For example, if the head is 50 meters, the flow rate is 5 cubic meters per second, and the efficiency is 90%, the power output of the hydroelectric turbine would be:

Power = 5 x 50 x 0.9 = 225 kW

To generate 4,566.67 kWh of mechanical energy per day, the power plant would need to generate:

Power = 4,566.67 kWh/day / 24 hours/day = 190.28 kW

Therefore, to generate the required amount of mechanical energy using hydroelectricity, the power plant would need to have a capacity of approximately 190 kW. However, this is just a rough estimate, and the actual size of the hydroelectric plant required would depend on the specific site conditions and efficiency of the hydroelectric turbines used.

Dividing the required power output of 190.28 kW among three hydroelectric power plants would mean that each plant would need to generate approximately 63.43 kW of mechanical energy. Again, the specific size and type of hydroelectric turbines used would depend on the site conditions and flow rate of the water source.

As a rough estimate, a small hydroelectric plant with a capacity of 63.43 kW might include one or more turbines with a head of 10-30 meters and a flow rate of 0.5-2.5 cubic meters per second. The exact number and size of the turbines would depend on the specific site conditions and the efficiency of the turbines used.

It's also worth noting that the power output of a hydroelectric plant can vary significantly depending on factors such as changes in water flow, head, and other site conditions. Therefore, the design of a hydroelectric plant typically involves careful analysis and modeling of the site conditions to ensure that the plant is optimized for maximum power output and efficiency under a range of operating conditions.

Supplement Market

Vitamin C

The global vitamin C supplement market size was valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2020, and it is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from 2021 to 2028. The vitamin C supplement market size in Europe was valued at USD 285.7 million in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2021 to 2028. The growth of the market is primarily driven by the increasing consumer awareness regarding the health benefits of vitamin C supplements and the growing demand for natural and organic products. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the market growth as vitamin C supplements are believed to boost immunity, and there has been a significant increase in demand for immune-boosting supplements. The market is expected to continue growing in the coming years as consumers increasingly prioritize their health and wellness.

Iron

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global iron supplements market size was valued at USD 1.57 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028. The market growth is primarily driven by factors such as rising prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, increasing awareness about the benefits of iron supplements, and growing demand for dietary supplements.

According to a report by Zion Market Research, the Europe iron supplements market size was valued at USD 267.8 million in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2021 to 2027. The market growth in Europe is primarily driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, growing demand for dietary supplements, and rising awareness about the benefits of iron supplements.

Vitamin B12

The global vitamin B12 supplements market size was valued at USD 4.6 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2021 to 2028. The market growth is primarily driven by factors such as increasing prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, rising awareness about the benefits of vitamin B12 supplements, and growing demand for dietary supplements. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the market growth as consumers have become more health-conscious and are seeking to improve their overall health and immunity. The market is expected to continue growing in the coming years as consumers increasingly prioritize their health and wellness.

According to a report by Persistence Market Research, the Europe vitamin B12 supplements market size was valued at USD 459.4 million in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2021 to 2031. The market growth in Europe is primarily driven by factors such as the rising prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, growing demand for dietary supplements, and increasing awareness about the benefits of vitamin B12 supplements. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the market growth as consumers have become more health-conscious and are seeking to improve their overall health and immunity. The market is expected to continue growing in the coming years as consumers increasingly prioritize their health and wellness.

Sickle-Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is most commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as parts of India, the Middle East, and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sickle cell anemia affects millions of people worldwide, with an estimated 70% of cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is also common in countries with high rates of malaria, as the sickle cell trait can provide some resistance to the malaria parasite.

Potable Water

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report in 2021, the region with the highest rates of lack of access to potable water is Sub-Saharan Africa, where 42% of the population (or 490 million people) still do not have access to basic drinking water services. Other regions with significant populations lacking access to potable water include Southern Asia (9% or 235 million people) and Central and Southern Africa (6% or 50 million people).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the sinking city of Venice presents a major challenge that requires innovative solutions to address. The proposal of implementing hydroelectric waterways offers a promising solution that can generate sustainable energy to power desalination plants to produce potable water. This technology can be adapted to help other parts of the world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, where lack of access to potable water remains a significant challenge.

Furthermore, the proposal to incorporate vitamin C, iron, and B12 powder in the desalinated water presents an innovative solution to fight anemia, which is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. The supplements market is growing globally, with significant growth in Europe, driven by increasing awareness of the health benefits of dietary supplements.

By combining these solutions, we can alleviate the sinking struggle of Venice, provide access to clean drinking water and essential nutrients, contributing to improving public health in regions that need it the most. The potential impact of this proposal is enormous and can be a game-changer in addressing the challenges of water scarcity and malnutrition in the world. The implementation of this solution requires collaboration between governments, private sector organizations, and civil society to ensure its success and sustainability.