OTEC depends on temperature differences and therefore is most efficient in the tropics where the surface water is warmest. The temperature of surface water and the deep water must differ by at least approximately 36 degrees Fahrenheit (or 20 degrees Celsius) for an OTEC system to generate power. As you can see from the map (left) these conditions capture a large number of population centers.

OTEC uses extremely mainstream equipment like shell and tube heat exchangers (below), a great advantage for a ‘new technology’, since the science and production equipment already exists.

‘New OTEC’ is a zero emission, clean, green renewable energy source. Unlike the most common means of generating power it doesn’t involve burning fossil fuels, creating damaging greenhouse gases or clouds of toxic air pollution.

The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface and their upper layers absorb a large part of the heat that the sun produces. They are the largest energy storage system on the planet. Harnessing just a fraction of this energy can provide power on continental scales and thus, help bring an end to the widespread use of fossil fuels.

Yes, OTEC definitely works.  It uses relatively simple technology.   There are working systems around the world.  Unlike other sources of new energy, OTEC does not have the same R and D path because it uses technology which has been used for other applications.  The R and D path of OTEC parts is already well over 100 years old.

No, OTEC parts are not expensive.  For the same reason that the parts have been in development and production for 100 years already means that prices are extremely competitive.  Given that OTEC has no fuel cost and that it uses such mainstream technology it could be the cheapest source of energy in the world.  The problem with OTEC lies with the cost of cold water delivery; this is the problem our company has fixed.  When talking to marine engineering firms about the installation of a cold water delivery system, the conversations no longer involve talking about the extensive planning required, or the space required, or the tremendous risk involved when dealing with the sea.  Our use of hoses undermines all of these problems positively, which makes low cost OTEC possible on small scales.

A key benefit of OTEC technology is the use of the cold deep water for cooling in air conditioning systems. This technology can be implemented alongside ‘New’ OTEC or stand alone.

The cold water from the depths of the ocean can replace the need to use electricity to cool buildings.

With our ‘New’ SWAC (sea water air conditioning) we can provide the huge reductions in cooling bills (up to 90%) associated with traditional SWAC but at a vastly reduced cost to the customer.

Unlike traditional SWAC our NEW SWAC system can be offered with a lease and with overall costs as much as 90 % less than traditional SWAC.

Desalination is also possible using cold sea water, a vacuum, and warm surface water, the process is called low-temperature thermal desalination; warm sea water is evaporated in a vacuum and then cooled, using the cold water, so that it condenses, the condensate is pure water.
There are working LTTD systems in India, and these systems are ready for sale. LTTD has a very low maintenance requirement and lower energy requirement than reverse osmosis which ought to make it attractive in countries where energy is expensive, especially remote locations.