Global OTEC and 2H Offshore have signed an agreement to combine their expertise in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology and marine engineering. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in London last week, will focus on the development of floating OTEC, with emphasis on Water Intake Riser (WIR) systems that are essential for the technology to operate offshore.
This collaboration is a significant step towards making OTEC commercially viable worldwide, with the potential to change the energy landscape in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), currently powered almost exclusively by fossil fuels.
2H Offshore is a company specializing in Marine Energy and is well-known for its expertise in designing seawater intake risers and pipes for various applications including OTEC, seawater air conditioning, floating production storage offloading and water intake risers. The company's key capability in this field is the design and implementation of motion monitoring systems that help to characterize riser response and evaluate fatigue.
“Our journey in advancing marine engineering resonates deeply with Global OTEC's passion for sustainable energy solutions. This collaboration is more than a merging of expertise; it's a shared commitment to pioneering innovative technologies and the personal conviction we hold towards shaping a more sustainable future,” says the Managing Director at 2H, Yann Helle.
Focused on expanding its technology worldwide, Global OTEC presented advanced concepts of its first-of-a-kind commercial-scale floating OTEC platform at the beginning of November, during the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF). Capable of generating 1.5 MW net output by harnessing the ocean waters using an array of OTEC modules, the platform named Dominique is set to start by the end of 2025 in São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa.
Global OTEC Founder and CEO Dan Grech highlights the importance of this collaboration for this project and further OTEC development: “The water intake riser has long been the limiting factor in OTEC scale and readiness. We are reassured by the progress being made in offshore oil and gas for cooling systems to be directly applicable to properties of riser required by an offshore OTEC platform.”
OTEC harnesses the temperature difference between surface seawater and deep ocean water to generate electricity. With a higher capacity factor than other renewable energy sources, it has the potential to provide baseload reliable power for coastal nations and SIDS seeking to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. OTEC can operate continuously, 24/7, throughout the year, making it an ideal alternative for countries located within the tropics that require a consistent and uninterrupted clean energy supply.
