Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): Ocean Engineering Technology Development

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is the principal ocean energy source under development in the U.S. because of its potential, state of development, and availability and access of the resource to the U.S. The major features of OTEC are that the source is renewable with minimum impact on the environment and the constant availability of the resource enhances OTEC acceptability as a power baseload option, with no requirement for additional storage. The OTEC ocean engineering technology development program involves conducting research in critical areas to demonstrate technical and economic feasibility and minimizing engineering risks to promote industrial participation leading to commercial ventures. This program has established preliminary baseline designs and developed analytical models that are being experimentally verified to provide a technical basis for developing and evaluating future designs. This paper summarizes the technological accomplishments, major findings, remaining problems and action planned as of June, 1981. The areas of major concern pertain to the cost- effective designs for the platform, mooring system, cold water pipe, and electrical umbilical cable and the successful system integration of these components into a working plant that can be readily deployed and operated at sea over a design life of 30 years. A similar summary of the status of OTEC ocean engineering technology through October 1980 is presented in (1)*.