Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion—Flexible Enabling Technology for Variable Renewable Energy Integration in the Caribbean

Robert J. Brecha, Katherine Schoenenberger, Masaō Ashtine and Randy Koon Koon
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Robert J. Brecha: Climate Analytics, Ritterstr. 3, 10969 Berlin, Germany
Katherine Schoenenberger: Hanley Sustainability Institute, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
Masaō Ashtine: Department of Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
Randy Koon Koon: Department of Physics, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: Many Caribbean island nations have historically been heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels for both power and transportation, while at the same time being at an enhanced risk from the impacts of climate change, although their emissions represent a very tiny fraction of the global total responsible for climate change. Small island developing states (SIDSs) are among the leaders in advocating for the ambitious 1.5 °C Paris Agreement target and the transition to 100% sustainable, renewable energy systems. In this work, three central results are presented. First, through GIS mapping of all Caribbean islands, the potential for near-coastal deep-water as a resource for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is shown, and these results are coupled with an estimate of the countries for which OTEC would be most advantageous due to a lack of other dispatchable renewable power options. Secondly, hourly data have been utilized to explicitly show the trade-offs between battery storage needs and dispatchable renewable sources such as OTEC in 100% renewable electricity systems, both in technological and economic terms. Finally, the utility of near-shore, open-cycle OTEC with accompanying desalination is shown to enable a higher penetration of renewable energy and lead to lower system levelized costs than those of a conventional fossil fuel system.

Keywords: ocean thermal energy conversion; OTEC; seawater air conditioning; SWAC; desalination; variable renewable energy; wind power; solar PV; 100% renewable energy; Caribbean (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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