Ocean Thermal Energy

makai

The MAKAI Ocean Energy Research Center2

Ocean thermal energy conversion, otherwise known as OTEC, is a process that produces electricity be taking advantage of the difference in temperatures between the warm surface water and the deep cold water in the ocean. This form of energy conversion is clean and capable of producing massive amounts of energy. It is estimated that OTEC can produce enough energy with about 12 commercial size OTEC plants to fulfill all of Hawaii’s electrical needs.