Strategic outlook Osmotic power systems By Dubai Future Foundation Osmotic power systems could offer a unique approach to energy generation, with the potential to generate 5,177 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually – nearly a fifth of global electricity needs.23,24 If developed at scale, this technology might transform how societies manage water resources while simultaneously creating new energy generation capabilities across coastal and estuarine environments. The most compelling opportunity lies in the technology’s ability to integrate energy production with water management. Utility companies might develop hybrid renewable systems that combine osmotic power with wind, solar and hydro technologies, creating more adaptive and resilient energy networks.25 Coastal and estuarine communities could particularly benefit from decentralized energy solutions that enhance local energy resilience.26 As the technology matures, it could reshape global approaches to resource management. The growing research momentum – with 281 research papers published between 2022 and 2024, compared to 263 between 1968 and 2010 – suggests a critical inflection point.27 Investments like Sweetch Energy’s €25 million funding indicate increasing confidence in the technology’s potential.28 Equally transformative is the potential that extends beyond energy generation to enable new approaches to water treatment and resource recovery. Osmotic power technologies could enable new approaches to desalination while recovering critical resources like lithium during the process. This could create interconnected systems where water management, energy production and resource extraction become deeply integrated.29,30 Imagine a future where water-intensive industries view water not as a waste stream, but as a strategic resource platform. Communities might develop economic models that transform geographical constraints into opportunities. These industries could reimagine their infrastructure to generate multiple forms of value – energy, purified water and recovered materials – from each interaction with water. To realize benefits at scale, the most innovative organizations will recognize osmotic power as more than an energy technology – it represents a potential platform for reimagining how water-intensive industries create economic value. A desalination plant could evolve from a cost centre to a multi-purpose resource generator, simultaneously producing energy, purified water and recoverable minerals – transforming infrastructure from a linear process to an adaptive, value-creating ecosystem. By integrating osmotic power systems, societies could develop more resilient, sustainable approaches to resource management. This technology might help transform how energy is generated, water is treated and economic value is created – potentially enabling infrastructure that serves multiple functions simultaneously across water management and energy production. Related DFF megatrends: Materials and Energy Boundaries31 Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 14