Electricity and the "Ataranai Oyster" - The Potential of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Advantages of this technology include the fact that it does not require large-scale facilities, the fact that it is not affected by climate and thus can be expected to have a high operating rate whereas solar and wind power generation are affected by sunlight and wind and tend to have low operating rates, and the fact that the deep seawater that is pumped up during power generation is rich in nutr. [...] Specifically, seawater at a depth of 600 to 1,000 meters, at a temperature of 5 to 7°C, is used as a cooling source to turn the working fluid into a liquid state, and warm seawater at a temperature of 25°to 30°C in the surface layer of the ocean is used as a warming source to turn the working fluid into a boiling state. [...] The demonstration experiment on Kumejima Island started in 2013 with 100 kWh, and the goal is to reach 1,000 kWh by 2026, equivalent to about 15% of the island's annual power consumption, and 100,000 kWh by 2030 and beyond.5 3． Challenges and Potential of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion However, not all of the demonstration tests on Kumejima have been successful. [...] Lines (MOL) is participating in a demonstration experiment on Kumejima Island and has begun a study on the commercialization of ocean thermal energy conversion in Mauritius in the Indian Ocean from 2022.8 The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is also developing a study for the spread of ocean thermal energy conversion in the Republic of Palau and other Pacific island countries. [...] In the Indo-Pacific region, China is accelerating infrastructure development in island countries to expand its influence, and OTEC has the potential to be highly evaluated as a technology originating in Japan that takes advantage of the characteristics of each country and region.