Tropical idea: Ocean thermal energy conversion

Thanks to the development of systems that can harvest energy from its waves, tides and currents, the ocean is viewed as in increasingly valuable source of power. But according to the proponents of technology that exploits the sea’s ability to trap solar energy, we haven’t seen anything yet.

The technology, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), could, they say, transform the way we use energy, allowing us to supply huge quantities of non-polluting, baseload power. It could also help desalinate water and provide refrigeration to local communities.

According to some estimates, more than 300 times the energy we currently consume is available from the solar energy that is constantly stored in the upper layers of the tropical ocean. On an average day, 60 million square kilometres of tropical seas absorb an amount of solar radiation equivalent in heat content to around 250 billion barrels of oil. Tapping into that potential has been the goal of OTEC scientists for more than a century.