Partnership to advance ocean thermal energy conversion systems
Power Engineering International
Posted on: 5 December 2023
Global OTEC and 2H Offshore will develop water intake riser systems that are essential for OTEC technology to operate offshore.
Global OTEC and 2H Offshore have agreed to combine their expertise to develop floating ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), with emphasis on water intake riser systems that are essential for the technology to operate offshore.
This collaboration will drive the commercialisation of OTEC worldwide, with great potential to change the energy landscape in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
2H Offshore specialises in marine energy, specifically designing seawater intake risers and pipes for various applications including OTEC.
Global OTEC founder and CEO Dan Grech commented: “The water intake riser has long been the limiting factor in OTEC scale and readiness. We are reassured by the progress being made in offshore oil and gas for cooling systems to be directly applicable to properties of riser required by an offshore OTEC platform.”
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The company's key capability in this field is the design and implementation of motion monitoring systems that help to characterise riser response and evaluate fatigue. “This collaboration is more than a merging of expertise; it's a shared commitment to pioneering innovative technologies and the personal conviction we hold towards shaping a more sustainable future”, said Yann Helle, managing director at 2H.
Global OTEC presented concepts of its commercial-scale floating OTEC platform in November 2023. Capable of generating 1.5MW net output, the platform named Dominique is set to start by the end of 2025 in São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa.
Ocean thermal energy conversion harnesses the temperature difference between surface seawater and deep ocean water to generate electricity.
With a higher capacity factor than other renewable energy sources, it has the potential to provide baseload reliable power for coastal nations and SIDS seeking to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
