Renewable Energy From the Deep Ocean

Why expensive cable? The produced electricity can be converted (on side) in hydrogen...

I've got a few films tackling various issues on wind power...
And please do pass the link around :)

OTEC is one of the safest power systems. A comparison of various power systems is in our recent presentation to CIAPR posted on our offinf web site.

The primary disadvantage is the high initial cost, but if they are made in Puerto Rico, this will create large numbers of good jobs.

i support OTEC.

A question to JTPlocek. Is it safer for the eviroment? does it produce any harm to the oceans at all? What are the disadvantages of this systems? and whe will it be implemented in Puerto Rico?

But it will become more and more competitive as natural gas and coal prices inevitably go up, up, up, and away (after all is depleted)

If it generates byproduct desalinated water then it definitely will be implemented. Our civilization has clearly demonstrated that we do not know how to sustain fresh water sources through aquifers and rivers

The cold deep water naturally rises over time, quite rapidly during upwelling events and at seamounts. The amount used in OTEC is very small compared to natural upwelling, well below the natural variations from year to year. OTEC takes a part of what happens naturally and captures a small percentage of the energy rather than having it dissipate unused. The end result is what would happen anyway, in a way similar to hydropower. Rainwater returns to the sea with or without a dam.

It is competitive with Natural Gas but not Coal without carbon dioxide capture. As units are built, costs will come down. The first units are competitive with oil at about $80 a barrel. Also it is the only energy source that can generate byproduct desalinated water. The hybrid design can produce water and electricity together at lower cost than any other method.

The big question is what kind of energy balance could we get from this source. If it does not prove cost competitive with coal and/or natural gas it will not be implemented.

still a tint change to the currents may produce a vast climatic change. just wondering does man really know what they are getting into?

i'm not a greenie just wondering about repercutions..

Open Ocean OTEC Plantships can produce Hydrogen in addition to ammonia, which may become a preferred energy source since it is much easier to store and transport than Hydrogen. A key issue will be if ownership control can remain in Puerto Rico.

The impact on Ocean Currents will be tiny even when thousands of units are operating.

perhaps at the very lest the oil companies will instead use the electricity generated by this system to slit enormous amounts of water to Hydrogen and oxygen??
that way they will have a commodity they can sell on to the masses and still keep their profits..

one little concern:

there are a lot of Eco systems that depend on the ocean currents and their temperatures so how much will this affect the global environment????

Most fish swim fast enough to avoid or swim out of the intakes. Slow fish are lunch for fast fish in the deep open ocean. There are also screens.

it is going to kill the little fishies noooooo!