OTEC - Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Abstract

OTEC, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is an energy technology that converts solar radiation to electric power. OTEC systems use the ocean’s natural thermal gradient. The OTEC process consist of pumping cold ocean water to the surface and using the temperature difference between this and the warm surface water to run a thermal engine to generate electricity. Producing electricity is not the only thing that OTEC can do. You can, if you want, reduce the amount of electric power and produce fresh water instead. This can be very significant on for example islands where fresh water is limited. OTEC uses water from the bottom of the sea, which is nutritious; one result of this is that a lot of fish and other seafood will be collected in the outlet flow. This means that OTEC not only produce electricity, it produces water and food too.