{"id":13948,"date":"2023-11-09T12:45:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T12:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1401442"},"modified":"2023-11-09T12:45:35","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T12:45:35","slug":"140-year-old-ocean-heat-tech-could-supply-islands-with-limitless-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=13948","title":{"rendered":"140-year-old ocean heat tech could supply islands with limitless energy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span>A UK-based <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/topic\/startups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">startup<\/a> is looking to breathe new life into a century-old technology that could power tropical island nations with virtually limitless, consistent, renewable energy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Known as ocean thermal energy conversion or \u2018OTEC,\u2019 the technology was first invented in 1881 by <\/span><span>French <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/topic\/physics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">physicist<\/a><\/span> <span>Jacques Arsene d\u2019Arsonval. He discovered that <\/span><span>the temperature difference between sun-warmed surface water and the cold depths of the ocean could be harnessed to generate electricity.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>OTEC systems transfer heat from warm surface waters to evaporate a low-boiling point fluid like ammonia, creating steam that drives a turbine to produce electricity. As the vapour cools and condenses in contact with cold seawater pumped from the ocean\u2019s depths, it completes the energy cycle.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>How it works:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"TU Delft - OTEC\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcdoc=\"\n\n<style>*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden}html,body{background:#000;height:100%}img{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;transition:opacity .1s cubic-bezier(0.4,0,1,1)}a:hover img+img{opacity:1!important}<\/style>\n<p><a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FHBVgRWAt3c?start=43&amp;feature=oembed?feature=oembed&amp;autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;theme=light&amp;playsinline=1'><img src='https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/FHBVgRWAt3c?start=43&amp;feature=oembed\/hqdefault.jpg'><img src='https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cyberdelia\/assets\/img\/ytplaybtn.png' style='top: 50%;left:50%;width:68px;height:48px;transform:translate3d(-50%,-50%,0)'><img src='https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cyberdelia\/assets\/img\/ytplaybtn-hover.png' style='top: 50%;left:50%;width:68px;height:48px;opacity:0;transform:translate3d(-50%,-50%,0)'><\/a>&#8221; frameborder=&#8221;0&#8243; allow=&#8221;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&#8221; allowfullscreen>[embedded content]<\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper latest channel-cta hs-embed-tnw\">\n<div id=\"hs-embed-tnw\" class=\"channel-cta-wrapper\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"channel-cta-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"><\/div>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"channel-cta-input\" readability=\"12\">\n<p class=\"channel-cta-title\">The &lt;3 of EU tech<\/p>\n<p class=\"channel-cta-tagline\">The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol&#8217; founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It&#8217;s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>In theory, OTEC has the potential to produce <\/span><span>at least <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-1312\/6\/1\/12\/htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span>2,000GW<\/span><\/a><span> globally, rivalling the combined capacity of all the world\u2019s coal power plants. And unlike many renewables, it is a baseload source of power, which means it can run 24\/7 with no fluctuation in output.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>However, technological barriers, a lack of <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/topic\/funding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">funding<\/a>, and the meteoric rise of cheaper forms of renewable energy have largely pushed OTEC to the wayside. Globally, only two small demonstration plants are currently feeding energy to the grid \u2014 a 100kW one in Hawaii and another similarly-sized facility in Japan. That\u2019s only enough energy for a hundred or so households.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Pipe problems<\/h2>\n<p><span>You see, for OTEC to work it requires a temperature difference between hot and cold water of around 20 degrees Celsius. This can only be found in the tropics, which is not a problem in itself.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The real caveat is that an OTEC plant needs a constant supply of vast quantities of cold water from around 1,000m beneath the surface to operate efficiently. This means building a monumentally huge, storm-proof metal pipe of the kind that is, simply put, bloody expensive. <\/span><span>Just to create a modest 1MW plant, the pipe alone could <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eos.org\/features\/the-century-old-renewable-youve-never-heard-of\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span>cost<\/span><\/a><span> between $60mn and $80mn. F<\/span><span>or comparison, the cost of setting up an equivalent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/post\/What_would_be_the_cost_for_a_1_MW_power_generation_for_a_solar_power_plant_and_how_many_mirrors_require\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span>solar farm<\/span><\/a><span> ranges between $800,000 to $1.36mn.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Yet, one startup based out of the UK remains undeterred by these seemingly insurmountable cost barriers. For aptly named Global OTEC,&nbsp; the time has come for an ocean energy renaissance.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The company is developing a commercial-scale OTEC offshore rig that is specifically aimed at weaning small island nations off diesel fuel and onto clean, baseload energy. Named Dominique, the structure could generate 1.5MW once operational. The barge is set to be installed off the coast of the African archipelago of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe in 2025.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Learning from past mistakes<\/h2>\n<p><span>Global OTEC chose a floating barge design because onshore OTEC plants \u201crequire several multi-kilometre pipes fixed to the seabed\u201d to facilitate the acquisition and safe discharge of water. Offshore rigs on the other hand just require one large cold-water pipe travelling straight down into the ocean\u2019s depths \u2014 cutting costs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1401446 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1.png\" alt=\"a computer generated image of an OTEC offshore plant\" width=\"1640\" height=\"923\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1640px) 100vw, 1640px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1.png 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-280x158.png 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-240x135.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-796x448.png 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-1592x896.png 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-1200x675.png 1200w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/uk-startup-ocean-thermal-energy-technology#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fsustainability%2F2023%2F11%2F09%2Fuk-startup-ocean-thermal-energy-technology%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: A computer-generated image of Global OTEC\u2019s \u2018Dominique\u2019 offshore ocean thermal energy plant. Credit: Global OTEC\" data-title=\"Share A computer-generated image of Global OTEC\u2019s \u2018Dominique\u2019 offshore ocean thermal energy plant. Credit: Global OTEC on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share A computer-generated image of Global OTEC\u2019s \u2018Dominique\u2019 offshore ocean thermal energy plant. Credit: Global OTEC on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>A computer-generated image of Global OTEC\u2019s \u2018Dominique\u2019 offshore ocean thermal energy plant. Credit: Global OTEC<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1401446\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1.png\" alt=\"a computer generated image of an OTEC offshore plant\" width=\"1640\" height=\"923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1.png 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-280x158.png 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-240x135.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-796x448.png 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-1592x896.png 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Dominique_updated-1-1200x675.png 1200w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span>\u201cHistory is an important teacher, and we are committed to learning from it,\u201d said Grech. \u201cFailure of previous OTEC projects highlights where we should exercise caution,\u201d he said. In June, the company gained a key design certification for the structure\u2019s cold-pipe technology, an important step towards viability.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Tropical islands are largely dependent on imported fossil fuels, but with their wealth of sunshine, wind, and waves have huge renewable energy potential. For Grech, ocean thermal energy tech is ideally suited to supplying these island nations with baseload energy, alongside cheaper, but more intermittent renewables like wind and solar.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>While Global OTEC is confident of its approach, the technology is still largely unproven on this scale. And as of the time of writing it remains uncertain as to where exactly the money for the Dominique installation will come from. Yet, with climate change accelerating \u2014 and island nations being among the most vulnerable to its impacts \u2014 attempting to harness the ocean\u2019s heat on a commercial scale is surely, at the very least, worth a shot.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/uk-startup-ocean-thermal-energy-technology\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A UK-based startup is looking to breathe new life into a century-old technology that could power tropical island nations with virtually limitless, consistent, renewable energy.&nbsp; Known as ocean thermal energy conversion or&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13948"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13948\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}