Abstract
This report was prepared to update the economic viability of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) for the generation of electricity and desalinated water by reassessing specific cases under which both Closed Cycle and Open Cycle plants (CC-OTEC and OC-OTEC) could be competitive considering the following classes: (i) 1 MW land-based plants; (ii) 10 MW and (iii) 50 MW Plantship operating offshore connected via submarine power cable to land.
The main body of this report refrains from technical details beyond what is necessary to define each case. However, for the sake of completeness technical information previously published by the author and his colleagues is reproduced in Appendices 5 and 6. The comprehensive technical aspects documented in these two Appendices continue to be applicable.
The updated assessment provides: (i) Capital Costs ($/kWnet) estimates from equipment and installation quotes meeting Specifications developed by the author and confirmed with the operation of experimental plants; and (ii) Updating Levelized Cost of Electricity ($/kWh) as function of loan rates; including desalinated water production credit for specific OC-OTEC cases.