Lecture: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

Submitted by fnwellington on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 6:24pm
Date: 
10/01/2009 - 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Location: 

University of Hawaii at Manoa, Holmes Hall 244

CEE691/EE699 Seminar in Renewable Energy and Island Sustainability (REIS)

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

Speaker: Dr. Luis Vega, Program Manager, National Marine Renewable Energy Center, UHM

Given that proven World Oil Reserves can only satisfy present day demand for about 50 years, it would make sense to begin to implement the first generation of OTEC plantships providing electricity, via submarine power cables, to shore stations. These would be followed, in 20 to 30 years, with grazing OTEC plants operating as a self-contained factory ships on which an energy-intensive product like ammonia or hydrogen is produced. The main advantage of this design is that the plant, with its mobility, can cruise or graze around the tropical waters and is essentially decoupled from land.

For more information, contact Dr. Vega: luisvega@hawaii.edu

Participating Organizations: 
University of Hawai'i at Manoa - College of Engineering