Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Resource
The heat stored in the tropical ocean surface layer is derived from the sun and constitutes the largest energy resource on the surface of the earth. This is the primary energy source that drives the world’s weather. The daily natural energy flux through this system is approximately 10,000 times all the energy generated by human society from fossil fuels and nuclear fission in that same 24 hour period.
In the face of growing global energy demand and environmental concerns, the limitations in our current energy practices and policies are coming into sharp focus such as:
- Over dependence on finite fossil fuel and nuclear resources.
- Detrimental environmental effects such as global warming, rising sea levels, changes in weather patterns, oil spills, air pollution, and nuclear waste materials.
Large scale development and deployment of OTEC platforms can provide an environmentally friendly, sustainable solution to our energy needs.