Economical Ocean Thermal Energy Today for Power, Hydrogen, and Data Storage

Abstract Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) was first proposed in the 1880's. Engineers have envisioned its "green" base load potential using the warmed ocean surface water of the tropics together with the deep arctic cooled water. To be a viable source of energy, the design of an OTEC system must yield energy competitive with fossil fuel generation. Although OTEC appears to be a straightforward engineering project of a low temperature power cycle, the individual design, optimization, and packaging components in a specific robust floating structure is not trivial. This paper describes the design process and features of a floating OTEC plant that provides a projected levelized cost of electricity between $08-0.14/kWh.