Applications of OTEC-Related Technologies in Hawaii

摘要

Over the last twenty-five years, Hawaii has been a center for OTEC development in the United States. The initial focus of the OTEC R&D effort was on developing OTEC as an energy source, with OTEC-related co-products helping to make OTEC more cost effective. In a classic case of the "tail-wagging-the-dog," OTEC co-products are now the primary focus of current development efforts. This paper will discuss: (1) alternative sites to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA); (2) niche applications of OTEC and OTEC-related energy conversion technologies; and (3) the potential for seawater air conditioning (SWAC) in Hawaii and the preliminary results of a Sea Water Air Conditioning Feasibility Analysis currently underway.