OTEC Research & Initiatives

Delft University of Technology (DUT) conducts research to develop innovative solutions for the energy of the future. One of the promising energy technologies is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). Today's ongoing research at DUT is tackling the main engineering challenges and proceeds towards OTEC commercialization.

DUT is at the forefront of offshore science and engineering, with significant efforts in hydromechanics, offshore structural mechanics, fluid mechanics and energy systems.

Short news items

Upcoming event: May 2012 - OTEC lunch lecture by the Energy Club, Delft University of Technology 

Upcoming event: 26 April 2012 - time: 12:45 - 13:30 - OTEC workshop by the OTEC foundation, Delft University of Technology. Interested to join? Please let us know by sending an e-mail to info@remove-this.otecfoundation.org 

5 April - Bluerise workshop Ecopark Curacao: launching pad for OTEC, including the official unveiling of advanced OTEC research facility at TU Delft. For more information, see Bluerise's press release

29 - 31 March 2012 - Presenting OTEC & Ecopark Curacao at Durable Energy Conference, Curacao

22 - 23 September 2011 - Presenting advanced OTEC heat engine design at first international Seminar on ORC Power Systems, Delft University of Technology

June 2011 - Ecopark team presents Ecopark Design to stakeholders at Curacao

Januari 2011 - Kick-off Design Challenges Ocean Thermal Energy Ecopark and OTEC Demo

August 16th 2010 - Curaçao Airport Holding N.V. (CAH) and Bluerise BV have started a collaboration to provide the Airport premises with renewable energy from the Ocean. Seawater Air Conditioning (SWAC), Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) are candidate technologies to be implemented. Also, the creation of a renewable energy Ecopark is considered with support from the scientific community.

Voor meer informatie over OTEC, Bluerise en contactgegevens zie:

• De website van Bluerise
• Ecopark Curacao press release

Current projects

Intro

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a method for generating electricity using the thermal potential (temperature difference) from the upper and lower sea waters. The thermal potential drives a Rankine Cycle, which produces electricity (like an inverted refrigerator process). Interesting areas for OTEC applications are in the equatorial zone, where the thermal potential is highest.

              OTEC working principle (source: Bluerise) >                       

History

OTEC is an advanced technology having a long history of developments. Since 1881 there have been several attempts to develop and refine the OTEC system. So far, these attempts were purely experimental and consisted of demo plants, which were too small to be scaled to commercial size systems. Besides that, most systems were not successful due to economical and technological difficulties.

Current situation

The situation is changed now. Renewable energy is in the spotlights, offering opportunities for the OTEC technology. Developments such as the rise of the fossil fuel prices and an increasing knowledge in the offshore industry, result in the OTEC system to be economically more attractive and technologically more feasible.

OTEC potential

Seventy percent of all sunlight received by the Earth shines on the oceans. The larger part of this sunlight is captured as heat in the upper layers of the oceans. Therefore, the oceans are by far the biggest solar collectors on Earth. If we could utilize a mere fraction of this energy, we would have a limitless, renewable, baseload source that can provide enough energy to cover our global energy need.

Next to producing electricity, OTEC also offers the possibility of co-generating other products. The warm and cold water can be used for the production of clean drinking water by means of evaporation of the warm and condensation using the cold water.

Furthermore, the cold water can be used in building air-conditioning systems. Energy savings of up to 90% can be realized with this. Also, the cold water can be used for cooling in agriculture.

Deep Seawater Ecopark: synergy of Ocean Thermal Energy applications (source: Bluerise)

With its location in the Caribbean Sea, Curaçao is perfectly suited to harness Ocean Thermal Energy. In addition, currently almost all energy consumed in Curacao is imported at very high prices. Mostly air polluting diesel generators are used to power the islands.

This summer Curacao International Airport started a collaboration with Bluerise to provide the Airport premises with renewable energy from the Ocean. The first step is to deploy a so-called Seawater Air Conditioning (SWAC) system, which brings up cold water from the deep ocean to cool the facilities on its premises. With this SWAC system the energy savings are up to 90%. Having access to the cold water, which is also very nutrient-rich, offers more possibilities than just cooling. Curacao International Airport has many acres of land available where innovative agri- and aqua culture systems, algea farming and various OTE related R&D activities can be deployed, benefiting from the availability of cold, nutrient-rich, seawater.

Bluerise

Bluerise is a TU Delft techno start-up in the emerging Ocean Thermal Energy market. Ocean Thermal Energy, with its low-cost, baseload generation capabilities, its huge potential and the possibility to generate electricity, cooling, drinking water and fuels, is on its way to become one of the leading renewable energy sources. Bluerise is closely affiliated with the Delft University of Technology and is member of the European Ocean Energy Association (EU-OEA) and the Dutch Energy from Water Association (EWA).

OTEC achievements & events

• Bluerise workshop Ecopark Curacao: launching pad for OTEC, including the official unveiling of an advanced OTEC research facility at TU Delft 
• Presenting OTEC & Ecopark Curacao at Durable Energy Conference, Curacao 
• Presenting advanced OTEC heat engine design at first international Seminar on ORC Power Systems, Delft University of Technology  
• Winning the TU Delft Design Challenge 2009, 2011
• Presenting at the IRO Innovation seminar
• Presenting at Energy Ocean 2009 and 2010, resp. Maine and Florida, U.S.

OTEC team presented at Energy Ocean 2009 in Maine and Energy Ocean 2010 in Florida, USA:

For more information: