OTEC gamble - goal: commerical power production by 1990

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Sea Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6070113

Bender, E

The process of commercializing ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) began recently at the Mini-OTEC plant off the coast of Hawaii and the conversion of a tanker as a demonstration plant at an Oregon shipyard. The many technical, political, environmental, and managerial challenges to be met were addressed at a recent international conference. These include a relatively small temperature differential, which will keep conversion efficiency at about two to three percent, and overcoming the problems inherent in an off-shore environment. The possibility of OTEC adverse impacts on the environment (and vice versa) - altered surface water temperatures, plankton, pollution, and local climate - is under study. Local, national, and international laws and legislated incentives must also be examined. A general description is given of the proposed OTEC platforms and the open-cycle power system. US pilot plants will be limited to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and other islands.

• OSTI ID: 6070113
• Journal Information: Sea Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Sea Technol.; (United States) Vol. 20:8; ISSN SEATA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800 -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
530200 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Assessment of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
COMMERCIALIZATION
CONVERSION
DEMONSTRATION PLANTS
DESIGN
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENGINEERING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
LEGAL ASPECTS
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
OFFSHORE SITES
PILOT PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR POWER PLANTS