Resource assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Ticona Rollano, Fadia M.; García Medina, Gabriel; Yang, Zhaoqing; Copping, Andrea E.

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2025.122907

Resource assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Journal Article · Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Renewable Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.122907· OSTI ID:3015495

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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Natural Systems Design, Seattle, WA (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

Island communities often struggle to establish and maintain traditional electric grids and are therefore heavily reliant on costly imported fossil fuels. In the case of Puerto Rico, these challenges are enhanced by extreme weather and other natural hazards that threaten the local electricity generation and transmission infrastructure. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) could play an important role in establishing a more resilient electrical grid in the region. Here, in this study, a detailed analysis is conducted to characterize the ocean thermal resource and power potential of OTEC in Puerto Rico based on a 14-year dataset of modeled ocean temperature. The assessment considers seasonal and interannual variability in the region's thermal resource and examines the operational limitations associated with minimal thermal gradients required to run a typical OTEC heat engine. Notably, the local thermal resource is found to be sensitive to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate patterns, with La Niña conditions linked to greater OTEC power availability. Seven areas of opportunity are identified based on their resource potential and proximity to existing electrical distribution lines, including two that could benefit the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands. The greatest OTEC power potential is observed to the south of the main island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea with an estimated capacity of 138 MW for a plant pumping cold water from a depth of 1,000 m, or the equivalent amount of electricity required to power 219,000 households.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 3015495

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--205306

Journal Information:: Renewable Energy, Journal Name: Renewable Energy Vol. 246; ISSN 0960-1481

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Related Subjects

OTEC
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
energy resilience
ocean thermal energy
resource characterization

Resource assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

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