Forcing water through tiny channels has always been difficult because of an electrical effect that takes place. The surface of the channel becomes electrically charged which hinders the flow of charged ions through the channel.
Larry Kostiuk took that lemon and investigating ways of making lemonade. He is attempting to harness that charge to create usable electricity. He and his team have pumped tap water through pourous glass with half a million holes, each just a hundredth of a millimetre wide, and they recorded a current of a few microamps.
Just ramp it up and increase the efficiency, and you have a winner! Lot’s more work to go for his team.