What is OTEC

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a marine renewable energy technology that harnesses the solar energy absorbed by the oceans to generate electric power. The sun’s heat warms the surface water a lot more than the deep ocean water, which creates the ocean’s naturally available temperature gradient, or thermal energy.

OTEC uses the ocean’s warm surface water with a temperature of around 25°C (77°F) to vaporize a working fluid, which has a low-boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapor expands and spins a turbine coupled to a generator to produce electricity. The vapor is then cooled by seawater that has been pumped from the deeper ocean layer, where the temperature is about 5°C (41°F). That condenses the working fluid back into a liquid, so it can be reused. This is a continuous electricity generating cycle.

The efficiency of the cycle is strongly determined by the temperature differential. The bigger the temperature difference, the higher the efficiency. The technology is therefore viable primarily in equatorial areas where the year-round temperature differential is at least 20 degrees Celsius or 36 degrees Fahrenheit.









OTEC benefits

OTEC benefits




Synergetic products

Cold water applications

Cold water applications

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Further reading