Lockheed Martin is progressing with Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion.The company has recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Reignwood Group to develop an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) pilot power plant off the coast of southern China.
Known as OTEC, this technology generates electricity by leveraging the temperature difference between warm surface water and deep cold water.
In geographical areas with warm surface water and cold deep water, the temperature difference can be leveraged to drive a steam cycle that turns a turbine and produces power. Warm surface sea water passes through a heat exchanger, vaporizing a low boiling point working fluid to drive a turbine generator, producing electricity.
The following is a video on OTEC, released by Lockheed Martin:
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Offshore WIND Staff, May 6, 2013; Image: Lockheed Martin