Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion-Lockheed Martin

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Lockheed Martin with 2 grants totaling $2 Million dollars to develop renewable energy with the technology of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. Under the first grant, Lockheed Martin will develop a tool to estimate the amount of energy that can be extracted from the ocean's thermal layers. The geographic information system-based dataset and software tool will be used to identify regions of the world viable for OTEC and seawater-based air conditioning (SWAC). The resulting resource mapping will provide critical information to policy makers, the energy industry and the public about regional OTEC and SWAC feasibility. The SWAC technology is current being used in Hawaii, Bora Bora, Stockholm and Ottawa.

The second grant will require Lockheed Martin to estimate the performance and life cycle costs while determining the potential reduction in electric utility loads during the summer peaks demand periods.

Lockheed Martin's experience with Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion dates by to the 1970's, when they built a "Mini-OTEC", which remains the only floating system in the world.



 

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