Quiet Lights Spun by the Sea: The Potential of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a renewable energy technology that uses the temperature difference between the surface and deep layers of seawater to generate electricity. Suitable for tropical and subtropical regions, there are three types of OTEC: closed-cycle, open-cycle, and hybrid. The hybrid method is particularly noteworthy in that it can generate electricity and produce fresh water at the same time. The strength of this technology lies in its ability to generate power stably day and night, and its potential for applications such as aquaculture and air conditioning using deep water. However, there are still issues to be addressed, such as low power generation efficiency, high equipment costs, and environmental impact.
In Japan, Xenesys, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Saga University are working on the development of the technology, which is being tested on Kumejima Island in Okinawa Prefecture. MOL aims to commercialize a 1 MW-class system by 2026, with support from the Ministry of the Environment. Overseas, demonstration tests are being conducted in Hawaii and Indonesia, and research is also underway in France and South Korea. OTEC has the potential to be a social infrastructure that combines not only power generation but also freshwater production and air conditioning, and is expected to be a light of the future brought about by the sea.
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