Skip to main content

OTEC

Capturing energy using temperature gradients across water depths.

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology converts solar energy stored in the layers of the tropical and subtropical oceans. Thermal heat engines use the temperature difference between the sun-warmed surface water and cold water in the deep ocean. The temperature difference between surface waters and deeper water can reach over 25oC in summer months, although usually this temperature difference exists only over water with depths of 1,000 m or greater. Many different OTEC archetypes have been investigated, some on floating offshore platforms and some built onshore with pipelines to transport the water to and from the ocean. Each system uses one or a combination of thermodynamic processes to turn the temperature difference into mechanical energy. Both the open-cycle and closed-cycle plants use cold water pumped from the deep ocean to condense a working fluid. An ancillary benefit is that the condensate is freshwater that can have other uses such as agriculture and potable drinking water.

Photo: Okinawa Prefecture Industrial Policy Division

Marine Energy Documents Related to OTEC

Tethys Engineering is a knowledge hub that contains documents and resources about the technical aspects of marine energy development. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Engineering Knowledge Base associated with OTEC.

Total: 542

Title Author Date Type of Content Technology Collection Method Engineering
Hydrodynamics of spar mounted OTEC system: An experimental and numerical study Nasma Noor, N.V., Srineash, V.K., Behera, M. Journal Article OTEC, Open-Cycle Lab Data, Modeling Hydrodynamics, Mooring, Structural
A review of ocean thermal energy conversion: Principles, design, operations and challenges Srivastava, S., Singh, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling
Techno-Economic integration of OTEC thermodynamic cycles with the development of floating prototype model in North Bali Firdaus, A., Phady, A., Adiputra, R. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Hydrodynamics, Structural
Techno-economic analysis of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): The influence of cold seawater depth Adiputra, R., Irianto, D., Anugia, Z. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Ocean Energy: The largest untapped renewable resource – Global Resource Assessment Dupont, V., Gruet, R., Conill, Y. Report Current, Tidal, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Grid Integration
Coastal and nearshore aquaculture: Assessing energy use and application of renewable energy resources Mengual, A., Hudson, H., Freeman, M. Journal Article Current, Tidal, Wave, OTEC
A review of fixed offshore platform designs for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems: Challenges and future directions Azam, A., Husain, M., Mukhlas, N. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle Structural
Thermodynamic performance and feasibility assessment of a micro OTEC unit for underwater charging applications Fan, C., Yang, R., Zhang, Y. Journal Article OTEC Lab Data Performance
OTEC-Assisted Mariculture Integrated with Symbiotic Anemone–Zooxanthellae Systems: A Numerical Investigation for Sustainable Coastal Applications Ökten, M. Journal Article OTEC Hydrodynamics
Modeling, energy analysis and feasibility assessment of ocean thermal power plant in Malaysia Nakib, T., Hasanuzzaman, M., Rahimi, N. Journal Article OTEC
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion as a Power Source for Ultra-Deepwater Subsea Assets: A Comparison with Conventional Renewable Energy Technologies Grech, D., Martin, M., Johnston, S. Conference Paper OTEC
A Preliminary Evaluation of a Concept of Multiple ColdWater Pipe System for a Floating OTEC Plant Hisamatsu, R., Utsunomiya, T. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hydrodynamics
HDPE Sea Water Intake Risers for Offshore Applications Craig, I., Martin, B., Vukelja, M. Report OTEC Materials
Sustainable Marine Energy Solutions: Assessing the Renewable Potential of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia Degiuli, N., Grlj, C., Martic, I. Journal Article Current, Tidal, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Evaluating the Offshore and Onshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Potential in Jamaica Using PCA-Based Site Selection Williams, Z., Lee, H. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Harnessing ocean thermal-salinity-pressure gradients for offshore energy battery clusters Zhang, J. Journal Article Salinity Gradient, Pressure-Retarded Osmosis, Reverse Electrodialysis, OTEC Substructure
Assessing the efficiency of ocean thermal energy conversion in the western Atlantic off Brazil Araújo, M., Noriega, C., Calzada, A. Journal Article OTEC Field Data
Optimizing energy futures in the Maldives: A study of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion technology energy Mixes Saadha, A., Ishihara, K, Ogawa, T. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
A solar-ocean-wind energy conversion system for power, hydrogen and freshwater production: Energy, exergy and exergoeconomic study and multi-criteria optimization Khan, M. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hybrid Devices
Harnessing the Ocean's depths: SWAC and OTEC for sustainable cooling and power - A review of technologies, applications and challenges Sanjivy, K., Raybaud, P., Hunt, J. Journal Article OTEC
Design, construction and sea trials of the 20 kW ocean thermal energy conversion in the South China Sea Ou, F., Ning, B., Li, J. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Field Data, Modeling, Scale Device Performance, Power Take Off
Feasibility of Multi-Use Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Platforms Copping, A., Farr, H., Rumple, C. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling
Exploring Effective Supply Chain Readiness and Resilience Within the Marine Renewable Energy Sector: A Future Reality Tree Approach Mason-Jones, R., Davies, P., Thomas, A. Journal Article Current, Tidal, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
IOS2025 Book of Abstract Thirugnana, S., Ikegami, Y., Ferdius, Y. Conference Paper OTEC Modeling Performance
Comprehensive assessment of working fluid selection for ocean thermal energy conversion Adiputra, R., Rasgianti, Nugraha, A. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Materials, Performance
Thermomagnetic generators for ultra-low-grade marine thermal energy harvesting Resendiz, E., Peterson, T., Kishore, R. Journal Article OTEC Lab Data Performance
White Paper on OTEC 2.0: Advancing Deployment and Innovation Brito e Melo, A., Bastos, P., Baltazar, J. Report OTEC Full Scale, Scale Device Grid Integration, Hybrid Devices, Materials, Mooring, Structural, Substructure
A modeling study of ocean thermal energy conversion resource and potential environmental effects around Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Park, K., Yang, Z., Copping, A. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Experimental study of a 30 kW ocean thermal energy conversion system integrated magnetic levitation expander Gao, W., Yang, C., Zhang, Y. Journal Article OTEC Lab Data Performance, Power Take Off, Structural
Review of fluid mechanics problems on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) pipeline systems Guo, H., Liu, M., Xiao, L. Journal Article OTEC Hydrodynamics, Structural
Ocean thermal energy conversion systems: The heat losses effect of the cold-water pipe Aresti, L., Onoufriou, T., Michailides, C. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance, Substructure
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) potential in central American and Caribbean regions: A multicriteria analysis for optimal sites Calvo, M., Lee, H. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling
Multi-Use Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Platforms Copping, A., Farr, H., Rumple, C. Conference Paper OTEC Modeling
Economic and Exergy Assessments for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Using Environment-Friendly Fluids Lu, H., Fan, C., Li, D. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Power Take Off
Sustainable underwater propulsion via ocean thermal energy conversion with latent heat storage Yang, R., Wang, J., Fan, C. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling
Exploring Co-Location Opportunities of OTEC and Offshore Fish Farms to Support the Blue Economy in the Southeast U.S. Sadoughipour, M., DaSilva, M., VanZwieten, J. Presentation OTEC Modeling
Assessing Power Generation Potential of Mid-Scale OTEC System in the Southeastern United States Sadoughipour, M., Fung, S., Tang, Y. Presentation OTEC Modeling Performance
An Experimental Setup for Lifetime Testing of Lithium Ion Batteries in Marine Conditions O'Sullivan, A., Brekken, T. Presentation Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Lab Data
Diving into the Portal and Repository for Information on Marine Renewable Energy Weers, J., Farr, H., Whiting, J. Presentation Current, Wave, Attenuator, OTEC Field Data, Lab Data
Hybrid phase change material based thermal gradient energy system for powering uncrewed underwater vehicles Jung, H., Ouro-Koura, H., Salalila, A. Journal Article OTEC Lab Data, Modeling Materials, Performance
Resource assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Ticona Rollano, F., Medina, G., Yang, Z. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling
Design and performance assessment of a novel hydrate based ocean thermal energy conversion system for power generation Liu, B., Xie, N., Shu, G. Journal Article OTEC
An assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion resources and climate change mitigation potential Nickoloff, A., Olim, S., Eby, M. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Review of performance improvement strategies and technical challenges for ocean thermal energy conversion Gao, W., Wang, F., Zhang, Y. Journal Article OTEC Performance
Solar enhanced ocean thermal energy conversion for green liquid hydrogen production Wang, L., Alirahmi, S., Rejeb, O. Journal Article OTEC
UMERC PTO and Controls Working Group Report Quinn, S., Robson, C., Franco, A. Report Current, Wave, OTEC Control, Power Take Off
Theoretical analysis on absorption heat transformers boosted multi-effect distillation system for ocean thermal energy conversion Yi, S., Zhang, Z., Yuan, H. Journal Article OTEC
A global cross-resource assessment of offshore renewable energy Spalding, J., White, C., Ross, L. Journal Article Current, Tidal, Ocean Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Numerical modelling and performance analysis of closed ocean thermal energy conversion cycles in the South China sea Chang, S., Lei, R., He, J. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Optimization of ocean thermal energy conversion based on pressure energy recovery of ammonia water working medium Tian, M., Yu, Y., Hou, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle
Displaying 1 - 50 of 542 results