Renewable Energy Solar Energy Wind Energy Geothermal Energy Bioenergy Hydropower

Hawaii Announces 10-MW Ocean Thermal Energy Partnership

December 12, 2008 | 5 Comments

Do you like this news?

Bookmark

Feed

Hawaii, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle announced a new energy partnership to develop a 10-megawatt (MW) Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) pilot plant in Hawai'i between the Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and the Lockheed Martin Corporation.

"Taiwan and Hawai'i also share a common vision and plan to increase renewable and clean energy generation based on indigenous energy resources."

-- Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle

During the Governor’s official state visit to Taiwan, the ITRI agreed to join in a feasibility study and will collaborate in the initial pilot plant in Hawai‘i. OTEC could provide renewable electricity generated from the difference in temperature between the ocean’s warm surface and its chilly depths.

The ocean temperatures and the subsea terrain make the waters surrounding both Taiwan and Hawai‘i superior locations for this technology. Lockheed Martin Corporation has developed and studied OTEC technology for over 30 years. Its plans for a 10-MW OTEC pilot plant in Hawai‘i are already underway.

“As island economies in the Pacific, Taiwan and the State of Hawai‘i share very similar challenges of overdependence on imported petroleum for their energy needs,” Governor Lingle said. “Taiwan and Hawai‘i also share a common vision and plan to increase renewable and clean energy generation based on indigenous energy resources.”

This latest agreement with Taiwan complements the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between the State of Hawai‘i and the United States Department of Energy which will decisively move the state away from its dependence on fossil fuels and toward a clean energy driven economy that will be a model for other states and regions.

Ocean Energy

5 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 5

r-t-55471

December 15, 2008

I have read about the Hawaiian OTEC efforts some time back. I hope they do well.

The ocean is a hostile environment but there is a lot of potential there. Kinetic energy, thermal energy, and lots of area to move some platforms off land.

Even land-locked areas could benefit from hydro thermal if the desire is there. By this I mean using a pond as a heat sink/source as opposed to laying pipes under ground.

The more ideas the better - there is no 'one size fits all'.

Comment
2 of 5

sylvie-chen-155656

December 17, 2008

Thermal energy applications generally have low efficiency factors. Ocean energy solutions have high maintenance issues.

It would be interesting to see what the total life cost of this approach is compared with wind and solar assuming the comparison is based on harnessing "free" energy sources.

One should also factor in the grid connectivity costs and the conversions required to transmit using alternating currents. Inverters are not cheap.

I do like the idea of using ponds as heat sinks. Make sure the fish are notified.

Comment
3 of 5

r-t-55471

December 17, 2008

Do not confuse efficiency with cost, as you say, the life cost is the driver. That will only be known after a few systems have been put into operation and optimizations have been made.

I understand electricity in Hawai'i is expensive so it is a good place to start. I presume the same for Taiwan.

The ponds I referred to could be artificial. Even natural, they would be so small the fish don't get a vote. If they like warm water in the summer and cool water in the winter they will be fine. If the fish don't like it the frogs will.

Comment
4 of 5

kickboxerMMA-54660

March 7, 2009

The new OTEC plant is at Keahole point in Kona, Hawaii. Its in my back yard. Just to clarify a point. OTEC works by warm surface sea water heating NH3 that vaporizes and spins a low pressure turbine. The NH3 is then liquified via a heat exchanger using cold sea water drawn up from 2000 feet. There are no heat sink ponds. Infact, the pure cold sea water is also recycled to various clients of NELHA who use it for aquafarming everything from micro algae for betacarotene (BioAstin), edible algae called "Ogo" by the locals, to fish farms, and crab and lobster nurseries.
http://www.nelha.org/tenants/commercial.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OTEC
http://www.nelha.org/index.asp

Hope this helps....

Comment
5 of 5

Lkinoshita

September 7, 2009

Gov. Lingle noted at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Conference last week that she was approached by a company planning to build a 100 MW plant on O`ahu.

Add Your Comment

Registered users, please make sure to Sign-In. We and others want to know your ideas and opinions. If you are not yet Registered -- it's quick and easy. Just click below.
Thanks!