OTEC - energy from the oceans

[malco]

This is the link to another renewable idea:

 

http://www.energybulletin.net/16811.html

 

The priciple is to use the temperature difference between deep water and surface water warmed by the sun to develop power. It's an old idea, the problem is that the energy available is exceedingly low grade, there being only a 20degC temp difference available in tropical waters. This means that to develop significant power would require immense machines. The article acknowledges this problem.

 

My suspicion is that the capital cost would render this one a no-no, especially as the cost of civil works will go up steeply in an energy crisis. We ought to have tried to build this kind of thing when energy was cheap, but that was when the economics appeared most disfavourable. As energy costs rise, I doubt the idea will become any more viable.

 

Anyone have further information?

[drbubb]

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT.L) website may have more info