Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) appears as a promising yet long-standing renewable energy technology that makes use of temperature differences within ocean groups.
Despite its 150-year history, practical application is gaining traction, with a focus on supplying crucial energy sources for island nations and coastal towns in the middle of the present decarbonization wave. Global OTEC wants to be the first commercial-scale generator by 2025, while Shell Technology works with Makai Ocean Engineering to investigate disruptive technologies such as OTEC systems.
The OTEC method includes collecting solar-heated surface water and channeling it through an evaporator to vaporize a fluid (such as ammonia or water), which then powers a turbine to generate electricity. Cold water from deeper ocean strata then cools the vaporized fluid, allowing the cycle to continue indefinitely. However, the system confronts difficulties, such as requiring a minimum temperature differential of 20°C across ocean layers and dealing with low thermodynamic efficiency.
In hypothesis, OTEC has tremendous global energy potential, with tropical waters collecting 278 petawatt-hours of solar energy per day. Despite historical setbacks and economic challenges, recent years have seen a rebound in small-scale OTEC initiatives, presenting a renewed chance for the technology's role in the continuing global decarbonization drive, particularly for coastal locations.
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