 No fuel burned - All the problems
of air and water pollution, strip mining and
waste disposal are eliminated. No smoke, fumes,
oil spills or thermal pollution. No greenhouse
gases.
Road to Energy independence - OTEC
stands as the best option for the USA and other
nations to gain energy independence. At the
moment, a handful of petroleum-rich countries
have a choke hold on the rest of the world.
Countries can become independent by using their
own nearbyocean waters to supply a large part
of their electricity, fresh water, fuel, and
food.
Fishing - Cold water, drawn from the
depths, is nutrient-rich and can significantly
increase fishing yields.
Fresh water - A potentially immense
by-product of the power cycle, for drinking
and agriculture.
Abundant resource - 40 million square
miles of tropical ocean suitable for OTEC close
to major populated countries. Ideal for southeast
of US, southern tip of Baja California, Hawaii,
Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa,
Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, China and
Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia.
(See map)
Hurricane Resistance - Sea Solar Power
plants are 95% submerged below wind and wave
action. Modern floating drill rigs have a higher
profile, stay on station, and survive severe
storms.
Ocean Location - No effect on real
estate market, no legal battles over plant siting.
No land structures marring scenic vistas.
A Host of By-Products - A Sea Solar
Power plant can also produce other energy intensive
products including:
Hydrogen as fuel • Methanol as
liquid fuel • Ammonia for fertilizer •
Industrial gases
|
Many useful by-products can be obtained from the warm and cold water resource using a little or all of the power produced in the plant. (See the diagram to the left.) Fish will benefit from the nutrient rich cold water discharged from the plant beneath the surface layers. This will be like fertilizing a field. Fresh water for human consumption and agriculture is an important by-product and can be barged to shore. Hydrogen for fuel cells or direct fuel burning and/or methanol can be produced for transportation fuels. |
Potential Products at sample prices from 100MW Floating Plants
|
| Product(1) |
Output/yr |
Unit Price |
Output/yr Metric Units |
Unit Price Metric |
Revenue/yr(1) |
| Electricity |
788,400,000 kwhrs |
$--- |
788,400,000 kwhrs |
$--- |
$--- |
| Oxygen |
219,000 tons |
$94.00 |
198,672 M.Tons |
$104 |
$20,586,000 |
| Nitrogen |
139,000 tons |
$82.00 |
126,098 M.Tons |
$90 |
$11,398,000 |
| Ammonia |
106,000 tons |
$170.00 |
96,161 M.Tons |
$187 |
$18,020,000 |
| Hydrogen |
17,000 tons |
$1,900.00 |
15,422 M.Tons |
$2,094 |
$32,300,000 |
| Methanol |
26,700,000 gals |
$1.90 |
101,059,500 liters |
$0.50 |
$50,730,000 |
| Fresh water(2) |
21,000,000,000 gals |
$0.003 |
79,485,000,000 liters |
$0.0008 |
$63,000,000 |
| Fish |
32,000,000 lbs. |
$1.00 |
14,514,880 kgs |
$2.20 |
$32,000,000 |
|
(1) Electricity only from first plants. Later plants, according to their design, will have a mix of products.
(2) Fresh water plant only; Much higher quantity. |
|
