Will the Mediterranean save the Dead Sea?

It sounds like a crazy plan, but it might just work. Last week, Israel’s Environmental Ministry announced that scientists are working on a new project to link the Dead Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, generating electricity along the way. 

For many years, the Dead Sea has been steadily evaporating, and its eventual disappearance seemed inevitable. However, a team led by Prof. Moshe Averbuch of Ariel University has now unveiled plans to restore its water levels by constructing a canal connecting the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean.

The benefits of the plan are manifold: balancing the water levels of the Dead Sea with the Mediterranean, harnessing energy produced along the way, and desalinating seawater. While the idea of linking the two bodies of water is not new, advancements in technology now make the project a cost-effective and feasible solution.

Details about the peer-reviewed initiative have been published in two scientific journals: "Energies and the Journal of Clean Energy" and "Energy Storage in 2023 and 2024." Ynet News reported that, having progressed from theory to the trial stage, researchers believe the project has significant potential to boost tourism, recreation, and resort development around the canal, which will run through the Judean Desert.

Averbuch highlighted the positive effect it could have on the environment, creating green areas and changing the ecological landscape.

"In recent decades, a significant deterioration has been taking place, with an annual drop of about a meter (3.28 ft) in water level, leading to sinkholes and damage to infrastructure in the area," Averbuch explained.

Just as many were becoming resigned to the sad loss of this natural wonder, Averbuch and his team may have found the solution to reverse the damage, producing ingenious energy savings at the same time.

The Dead Sea is famously the lowest place on earth. Its surface and shores are 427 meters (1,400 ft) below sea level, making it earth's lowest elevation on land, according to the European Space Agency.

Since the Mediterranean Sea is at a higher elevation, its water will naturally flow down toward the Dead Sea, generating energy along the way. Some of this energy will be used to pump the water up to the surrounding mountains, where it will be collected in desalination plants.

Once the salt has been removed and stored in separate pools, the freshwater will go to a supply reservoir. The team is planning to capitalize on the energy generated by the flow of water not only as it flows down from the Mediterranean, but also flowing down from the desalination plants in the mountains.

"In the evening, when there's no solar power but electricity consumption is high, the concentrated brine will be released from the pools into the Dead Sea through hydroelectric stations, generating electricity," said Averbuch.

He continued, "The flexibility of electricity production through hydroelectric storage will allow for greater solar electricity generation without compromising its quality. This will lead to a better output balance of conventional power stations."

According to the Times of Israel, the plan, subject to approval from Israel and Jordan, would also enable Israel to sell drinking water to Jordan and could become fully operational by 2045.