Abstract
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) has been seriously proposed as a natural and clean source of electric power starting in the late 1880’s. Through the 20th and now in the 21st century there have been numerous experiments, cycle developments, testing of components, environmental studies, and even small plants that prove OTEC is possible. Constantly, however, the cumulative call argues for the actual construction and installation of a prototype OTEC plant of commercial size, connected to a national municipal electric grid. Most less developed and smaller developed island and coastal tropical nations generate the bulk of their power with diesel fuel. This paper will describe how a 20 MW net prototype commercial OTEC plant can be built and installed in hundreds of tropical locations around the world today and produce reliable, continuous, baseload electricity at a lower cost than that generated from diesel fuel. In addition, a prototype plant of the design presented here can be profitable for any investor even without subsidies.
