A SOPAC Desktop Study of Ocean-Based RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 701 A technical publication produced by the SOPAC Community Lifelines Programme Acknowledgements Information presented in this publication has been sourced mainly from the internet and from publications produced by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The compiler would like to thank the following for reviewing and contributing to this publication: • Dr. Luis Vega • Anthony Derrick of IT Power, UK • Guillaume Dréau of Société de Recherche du Pacifique (SRP), New Caledonia • Professor Young-Ho Lee of Korea Maritime University, Korea • Professor Chul H. (Joe) Jo of Inha University, Korea • Luke Gowing and Garry Venus of Argo Environmental Ltd, New Zealand SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 701 Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), Fiji • Paul Fairbairn – Manager Community Lifelines Programme • Rupeni Mario – Senior Energy Adviser • Arieta Gonelevu – Senior Energy Project Officer • Frank Vukikimoala – Energy Project Officer • Koin Etuati – Energy Project Officer • Reshika Singh – Energy Resource Economist • Atishma Vandana Lal – Energy Support Officer • Mereseini (Lala) Bukarau – Senior Adviser Technical Publications Ivan Krishna • Sailesh Kumar Sen – Graphic Arts Officer Compiler First Edition October 2009 Cover Photo Source: HTTP://WALLPAPERS.FREE-REVIEW.NET/42__BIG_WAVE.HTM Back Cover Photo: Raj Singh A SOPAC Desktop Study of Ocean-Based Renewable Energy Technologies SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 701 Ivan Krishna Compiler First Edition October 2009 A technical publication produced by the SOPAC Community Lifelines Programme A SOPAC Desktop Study of Ocean-Based-Renewable Energy Technologies A SOPAC Desktop Study of Ocean-Based-Renewable Energy Technologies List of Acronyms ACP EU member states in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific ADB Asian Development Bank ASTM American Standards and Measurements Bureau AWS Archimedes Wave Swing CDM Clean Development Mechanism CWP Cold Water Pipe CIRAD Centre de co-opération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique de Développement CAD$ Canadian Dollars CO2 Carbon Dioxide DOE (USA) Department Of Energy - USA DECM Direct Energy Conversion Method DTI Department of Trade and Industry EPC Electric Power Corporation, Samoa EPA Environmental Protection Agency EN European Norm EU European Union EST Early Stage Technologies EMEC European Marine Energy Centre FRP Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic FJ$ Fiji Dollar GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environmental Facility GHG Greenhouse Gas IEA International Energy Agency IMF International Monetary Fund kVA Kilo Volt Ampere, a measure of apparent power kW Kilo Watt, a measure of real power LFPM Longitudinal Flux Permanent Magnet MJ Mega Joule MW Mega Watt MST Multi-Stage Turbine MHD Magnetohydrodynamic NELHA Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority NIOT National Institute of Ocean Technology NaREC New and Renewable Energy Centre NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory OTEC Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion CC-OTEC Closed Cycle OTEC OC-OTEC Open Cycle OTEC OWC Oscillating Water column PIC Pacific Island Country PIEPSAP Pacific Island Energy Policy and Strategic Action Plan PIFS Pacific Island Forum Secretariat PIREP Pacific Island Renewable Energy Project PRO Pressure Retarded Osmosis PNG Papua New Guinea PTO Power Take-Off Mechanism PM Permanent Magnet REM Regional Energy Officials Meeting RED Reversed Electro Dialysis RITE Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy SERI Solar Energy Research Institute SOPAC Secretariat of the Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission SRP Société de Recherche du Pacifique SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community SPR SyncWave Power Resonator SWELS SyncWave Energy Latching System SSG Seawave Slot-Cone Generator SARA Scientific Applications & Research Associates S.p.A Società per Azioni TFPM Transverse Flux Permanent Magnet UK United Kingdom UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade And Development UNDP United Nations Development Programme UN United Nations UNELCO Vanuatu’s Power Utility USP University of the South Pacific USA United States of America US$ United States Dollar VAT Value Added Tax WEC Wave Energy Converter SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 701 WB World Bank 4 A SOPAC Desktop Study of Ocean-Based-Renewable Energy Technologies A SOPAC Desktop Study of Ocean-Based-Renewable Energy Technologies Table of Contents Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................................................................................9 1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 0 2. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Technology.................................................................................... 1 1 2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Background and History of OTEC ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 2.3 Technology Types.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.3.1 Closed-Cycle OTEC..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.1.1 Kalina and Uehara Cycles................................................................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Open-Cycle OTEC........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 2.3.3 Hybrid OTEC System................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 2.4 Plant Design and Location..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 2.5 Other Uses of OTEC Technology................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21 2.5.1 Air Conditioning................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21 2.5.2 Chilled-soil Agriculture............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21 2.5.3 Aquaculture............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21 2.5.4 Desalination............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22 2.5.5 Hydrogen Production............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.5.6 Mineral Extraction.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.6 Limitations of OTEC Technologies............................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 2.6.1 Technical Challenges............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.6.2 Engineering Challenges....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 2.6.3 Disadvantages of OTEC........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 2.6.4 OTEC and the Environment...........................................................................................................................................................................................