Forbes recently featured the development of energy using the differential in temperatures between cold deep sea and warmer surface ocean waters. The technology is called ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). The technology apparently works as follows:
"Cold water is drawn with a pipe from depths of a 1,000 meters or more, where the
sun’s heat can’t reach. Meanwhile, warm seawater is sucked from near the
surface. The warm seawater is run through a heat exchanger with a chemical with
a low boiling point, like ammonia, which creates chemical steam that runs an
electrical turbine."
sun’s heat can’t reach. Meanwhile, warm seawater is sucked from near the
surface. The warm seawater is run through a heat exchanger with a chemical with
a low boiling point, like ammonia, which creates chemical steam that runs an
electrical turbine."
This paragraph in particular caught my interest: "Another entrant in the field, OTEC International, is poised to sign an agreement to install a one-megawatt offshore OTEC demonstration plant near the Big Island in Hawaii, and is negotiating with Hawaii Electric Company for a 100-megawatt plant."