A project to deploy a 1.5-MW commercial-scale ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) platform in the African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe by 2025 has gained a key design certification. The crucial milestone directly addresses technical risks that have hampered OTEC, a long-pursued baseload offshore renewable technology.
This April, UK-based Global OTEC received its first Certificate of Approval for the methodology of installing a Cold-Water Riser for an offshore OTEC platform.
SIDS DOCK has signed an agreement with the United Kingdom (UK)-based Global OTEC Resources Limited to collaborate on developing and deploying a Floating Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Technology Concept in SIDS.
Ocean thermal energy conversion could power the world’s tropical islands if it ever gets out of the “innovation valley of death.”