Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion - Case Study Example

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Identify the Purpose of the Paper The paper is intended to uncoverwhether or not to use the energy Ocean Thermal energy conversion energy source as a component in the overall energy landscape. The Question to Ask Should OTEC be used as a component in the overall energy landscape? This issue will form the blueprint towards my decision and conclusion on the issue. The Information utilized in Evaluation The information aided my evaluation relied on number of criteria. First I looked at the possible advantages and disadvantages of OTEC. In this case, it is only feasible and rational to include OTEC as a component of overall energy if the benefits override the damages it causes to the environment and people. In addition, the extraction process and the cost and manpower involved in the OTEC production also aided my evaluation. I critically focused my research on the problems associated with the removal. In this case, my decision criteria were pegged at the easiness and the technicality involved in OTEC. The cost-benefit analysis of such trade-off between the technicality and the ease of the extraction gave me the information need to evaluating whether the OTEC should be used as a component in overall energy due to; Energy Generation The warm water accumulated on the surface of the tropical ocean and subsequently pumped by the warm water pump. Finally, the water is pumped via the boiler from which some of it help in heating the working fluid such frequently propane. Accordingly the propane vapor expands the trough turbine attached to a generator that generates electric energy. Through the condensers, cold water from the bottom is impelled changing the gas to the liquid state and impelled back into the boiler. The process continues thus generating the large amount of renewable energy. Pros and Cons Pros OTEC utilizes clean, renewable natural resources. Warm surface seawater and cold ocean water act as substitute fossil fuels in generating electricity. Also, OTEC plants minimize the emission of Carbon Dioxide and other pollutants. The system produces valuable synergies as fresh water hence serves Island areas with limited freshwater. Moreover, there is the adequate solar energy received and stored in the tropical ocean to produce current energy requirement. Finally, OTEC utilization as the source of electricity help reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels that are prone to depletion and unfriendly to the environment. Cons The relative cost involved in the production of OTEC would be more than that of fossil fuels currently produced. The OTEC plants must be sited in areas of 20º C temperature differential yearly. In addition, the ocean depths have to be fairly close to shore-based facilities to support economic generation. The establishment of Ocean plant and laying of pipes in coastal waters culminates in localized damage to near-shore marine ecosystem and reefs. Environmental Impact Global warming threatens the next century population. OTEC is unique to other systems of energy production since besides its generation of no Carbon Dioxide, it counteracts the effects of fossil fuels. OTEC helps bring up mineral-rich water from the ocean floors. Such mineral-rich water enhances the growth of photosynthetic phytoplankton thereby absorbing Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere into their bodies. At the death of such organisms or animals feeding on them, the Carbon will be sequestered in the ocean depths. Such has an enormous significance as each 100-megawatta OTEC plant makes these plants absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to that generated by fossil fuel power plant. Therefore, no technology apart from OTEC can achieve the elimination of Carbon Dioxide. However, construction of OTEC plant can cause localized damage to near-shore and reefs ecosystem. Relative Cost Relatively, harnessing OTEC is higher in the short run but feasible in the long run compared to other fossil fuels production. For example, the price of the first 10-megawatts land-based plant is $40,000,000. Such an amount is inclusive of development cost with a potential of producing a profit of $10,000,000 annually. The expenditure for the first 100-megawatts floating plant is $215,000,000 yielding a profit of $100,000,000 annually from the sale of freshwater, seafood, and power. Geography Feasibility The technology is geographically feasible primarily in equatorial location where the year-round temperature differential is at least 20°C (36°F) Production Potential The ocean occupies over 70 percent of the Earth surface capturing a vast portion of the heat of the sun’s upper layers. Such validates ocean as the world’s greatest solar accumulation and energy storage system. Therefore, using a mere portion of such energy more than double serves the global energy requirement. Such a source of the energy of OTEC is free, available abundantly and is perpetually being replenished provided that there will be a sunshine and the natural ocean current exits. The energy production from OTEC is approximated to be to the tune of 3 to 5 terawatts of baseload power generation with the temperature of or the world environment remaining unaffected. Thus, OTEC is a vast renewable energy source with a potential to contribute to the future energy mix providing a sustainable electricity generation method. Replace Fossil Fuel OTEC is the best technology that will replace fossil fuels that pollute the environment besides being depleted. Therefore, OTEC is a renewable source of energy hence must be part of the overall landscape of power components. The OTEC utilizes the renewable energy collector, the sea and not the artificial collector. OTEC should thus be lucrative in the future to substitute nuclear power and the fossil fuels as it is perpetual. The only challenge is that it is an expensive venture than fossil fuel power plants. In addition, the potential for energy conversion via OTEC will remain perpetual as long as the sun heats and thus, profitable in the long run. The Clarification of any Concepts used The OTEC is potential and renewable source of energy, perpetual production and impacts on the environment. In this case, my evaluation was made easier based on the pros and cons arising from the OTEC. I also employed the concept of the synergetic products from OTEC that presented me with adequate premises to make a rational decision. The assumptions you make in the evaluation OTEC is an energy source with a significant potential. OTEC should be a cost-competitive with conventional power equipment. Another assumption is that OTEC has a potential to generate an enormous amount of electric power. There is a high cost used in implanting OTEC plants. The Inferences Created to Arrive at a Conclusion The arrival at my decision to include OTEC in the overall component of the energy landscape resulted from the potential benefits attached to this source of energy if properly executed. In addition, I concluded from the facts that OTEC is a reliable and perpetual source of energy (Gerdes, 2014). The sun from which the energy is extracted is an endless resource. Therefore, the only step needed to take is the intensive research and development to provide fully practical strategies that can be used to extract this energy commercially at the least cost. In addition, even if extraction and the subsequent electricity generation may seem too high, I am convinced that is a cost-effective step in the long and a perpetual and continuous supply of electricity. I also drew my inference towards my conclusion from the fact that despite the potential benefits attached to OTEC very little has been and is being done to fully categorize and include this source of energy in the overall component of energy landscape. The Identification of a Point of View My point of view is that OTEC should be an essential component in the overall energy landscape. The OTEC presents a lucrative opportunity to produce an enormous amount of electric energy and, therefore, must accurately be extracted to help supply more electrical power supply. In addition, OTEC is included as a component in the overall energy landscape. The Implications of your Decision My decision will culminate to a great shift towards the intense extraction and utilization of the OTEC. The decision to include OTEC in the overall component of the energy landscape will help reduce the higher cost of electricity. In addition, more research will be conducted to provide adequate information and knowledge that will culminate into increased reduction in the cost of OTEC extraction. Accordingly, the OTEC energy will help reduce the overdependence on the currently used sources of energy. In so doing, more jobs will be created to accommodate the increased extraction and production of the OTEC energy. In addition, the OTEC inclusion as a component in the overall energy landscape will ultimately culminate into an increased reduction in energy prices. Moreover, the implication of my decision is that the production of OTEC will benefit some other industries such as agriculture. The agricultural industry will benefit from the use of waste water used in cooling the greenhouses. In addition, the cooling as a by-product will help in such system as refrigeration and food preservation. Also, the valuable fresh water, a by-product from OTEC will help serve over 20000 people. How the Core Values are used to Inform your Decision One of the core values that have informed my decision is the distinctive feature of OTEC. Such a feature is the OTEC’s potential to produce baseload electricity. Such a baseload imply a continuous production 24/7 day and night throughout the year. Such a 24/7 baseload is advantageous for the tropical islands that has small electricity network and hence incapacitated of dealing with vast intermittent power. In addition, OTEC provides the possibility of co-generating synergetic products such as fresh water, nutrients for improved fish farming, and seawater cooled greenhouse hence food production in arid areas. The core values that have informed my decision are the overarching benefits attached to the OTEC as a source of energy (Energy, 2013). One of the core values assigned to the OTEC is that it is a renewable source of energy. Indeed, the OTEC production leads to the production of other valuable synergetic products such as cooling, food and fresh water used in a range of activities. In addition, the high cost of implanting OTEC plants has also influenced my decision. Explicit Statement of my Answer to the Decision The vast baseload OTEC resource should be included as a component in the overall energy landscape to benefit the many tropical and subtropical remote areas to be more energy self-sufficient. My answer to the decision is that OTEC is a potential source of energy and is worth being included in the general energy landscape as an essential component. The OTEC is a renewable source of energy and therefore environmentally friendly. In addition, the base load is a perpetual and available all time. Furthermore, the OTEC has significant synergetic products such as fresh water, food, and cooling. The OTEC production can produce up to 4,500 cubic meters with as low as I MW OTEC hybrid per day. Such an amount of fresh water can serve over 20,000 people. In addition that quality and production costs of such vast amount of fresh water compares favorably with the standard desalination plants. The OTEC food production is also the critical by-product. The production is of OTEC concurrently leads to the production of chief nutrient rich in cold water from the deep ocean. Such wastewater from the OTEC extraction and production is dischargeable into mostly contained ponds adjacent to the shore or land (Climate Wire, 2003). On such sites, the waste water can be used for a range of beneficial activities. The water is central to multi-species mariculture providing harvest yields surpassing that naturally occurring cold water upwelling zones same way agriculture on land. In addition, the cooling, as a by-product resulting from the cold water help in cooling the greenhouses for example, the Seawater Greenhouse and cold bed agriculture. In addition, the cold water can serve as the air conditioning system and refrigeration systems associated with creating storage facilities for food preservation. Bibliography ClimateWire, D. C. (2013, May 1). scientificamerican. Retrieved from www.scientificamerican.com: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ocean-thermal-power-will-debut-off-chinas-coast/ DiChristina, M. (n.d.). seawifs.gsfc.nasa. Retrieved from seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/ps_power.html Energy. (2013, August 16). energy. Retrieved from energy.gov: http://http://energy.gov/eere/energybasics/articles/ocean-thermal-energy-conversion-basics/eere/energybasics/articles/ocean-thermal-energy-conversion-basics Energyland. (n.d.). energyland.emsd. Retrieved from www.energyland.emsd.gov.hk/: http://www.energyland.emsd.gov.hk/en/energy/renewable/otec.html Gerdes, J. (2014, April 13). livinggreenmag. Retrieved from livinggreenmag.com: http://livinggreenmag.com/2014/04/03/energy-ecology/oceans-energy-abundant-carbon-free/ Moskvitch, K. (2014, April 10). scidev. Retrieved from www.scidev.net: http://www.scidev.net/global/energy/news/tropical-islands-poised-to-benefit-from-ocean-power.html NOAA. (n.d.). coast.noaa. Retrieved from coast.noaa.gov: http://coast.noaa.gov/czm/thermalenergy/ OEC. (n.d.). oceanenergycouncil. Retrieved from www.oceanenergycouncil.com: http://www.oceanenergycouncil.com/ocean-energy/otec-energy/will-otec-energy-work/ Rosen, L. (2014, April 14). 21stcentech. Retrieved from www.21stcentech.com: http://www.21stcentech.com/headlines-island-nations-develop-ocean-thermal-power/ Walter G. Berl, W. H. (n.d.). issues. Retrieved from issues.org: http://issues.org/14-2/avery-2/ Read More