22.02.12

/PRNewswire/ -- OTEC International LLC (OTI) was selected to build a one-megawatt demonstration plant by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority (NELHA) to test the full power cycle of ocean thermal energy conversion for electricity.

Baltimore-based OTI has built its OTEC design on decades of innovation, combining proprietary technology with off-the-shelf components. Privately funded OTI has not relied on government money and expects to be first-to-market with a commercial plant.

OTI is currently negotiating a power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company for a 100-megawatt (MW) plant and with Caribbean Utilities Company and others for 25 MW plants.  ABS, which sets standards of excellence and classifies marine-related facilities, has awarded OTI Approval-in-Principle for a floating renewable energy plant in both 25 MW and 100 MW models. It is ABS's first for such an energy plant.

OTEC uses vast solar energy stored in the upper ocean to vaporize ammonia, producing electricity via a turbine and generator. Deep water cools the ammonia to liquid to be heated again in a 24/7 cycle, making it baseload or firm power.

Source: Sacramento Bee