Thermal resource characterization for regional OTEC site screening in the Caribbean using AHP–TOPSIS

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) offers a sustainable option for improving energy security in the hurricane-prone Caribbean region. This study established a regional screening framework for identifying offshore OTEC candidate sites based on a high-resolution (∼1 km) characterization of the Mean Sea Water Temperature Difference (ΔT m ) and thermal persistence over a 19-year period under hurricane and non-hurricane seasons. These descriptors were integrated with environmental, meteorological, locational, energy, and socio-economic criteria through an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach across two offshore deployment categories (1: ≤15 km; 2: >15–50 km). Results indicated that ΔT m and thermal persistence exceeded 20 °C and 96 %, respectively, across most of the region. The highest ΔT m values (≥ 24 °C) occurred near Cuba, Haiti, and Mexico, although with slightly lower thermal persistence. Despite seasonal differences in ΔT m , thermal persistence remained comparatively stable. Jacmel (Haiti) and San Juan de Nicaragua were the highest-ranked sites in categories 1 and 2, respectively. Sensitivity analysis identified marine protected areas and seasonal thermal variability as the most sensitive criteria, while the top-ranked sites remained unchanged. The proposed framework supports regional OTEC site screening for subsequent pre-feasibility studies.