Air conditioning with deep seawater: a cost-effective alternative for West Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Deep cold seawater can be a practical and economically viable source of cooling in a centralized air conditioning system. A seawater air conditioning system (SWACS) uses cold sea water from approximately 2000 ft depth to cool (via a heat exchanger) a centralized fresh chilled water distribution loop serving multiple buildings. At ideal coastal sites, SWACS power savings can approach 80% compared to conventional chillers. This paper summarizes the technical and economic feasibility of such a centralized air conditioning system at West Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. West Beach is an ongoing development of resort hotels with good access to deep cold seawater. Centralized seawater air conditioning is a technically feasible and unsophisticated alternative energy concept that has the potential of significant impact in Hawaii and other similar regions. The installation of large systems at selected locations is economically attractive today.