Economics of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): An Update

摘要

Worldwide information indicates that although there are sufficient petroleum resources to meet demand for about 50 years, production is peaking and we will face a steadily diminishing petroleum supply. This situation justifies re-evaluating OTEC for the production of electricity, desalinated water and energy intensive products. It is postulated that the US should begin to implement the first generation of OTEC plantships providing electricity, via submarine power cables, to shore stations, followed, in about 20 years, with OTEC factories deployed along equatorial waters producing, for example, ammonia and hydrogen as the fuels that would support the post-petroleum era.Historical estimates of investment and operational costs associated with preliminary designs of OTEC plants are summarized along with current information. These are used to estimate the cost of electricity production and assess site specific cost effectiveness. It is determined that, for example, 50 to 100 MW OTEC plants could produce cost effective electricity in Hawai'i. In the absence of operational records, however, financing for such plants remains a daunting challenge. A pre-commercial plant, representing a scaled version of the 50 to 100 MW plants, must be deployed and operated to obtain the necessary records. This pre-commercial plant would not produce cost competitive electricity and, therefore, should be government funded.