A Study to Determine the Commercialization Potential of Open Cycle OTEC Water Plants

摘要

The report surveys the U.S. domestic need for freshwater in regions which are close to an ocean thermal gradient and selects a single site which appears to have the greatest potential for a commercially viable seawater desalination plant to be located in near shore waters. The selected site is St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. A conceptual design for an open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion plant of 15 million gallons per day (expected plant size for plant to be deployed in year 2005) is described and costed. Possible financing options for the plant are described. Capital and operating costs of a conventional multistage flash evaporator and an open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion plant are examined.