Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: A Case Study on Space Aid for Energy, Environment and Economics
- Paper number
IAC-05-C3.P.01
- Author
Dr. John Farrow, International Space University (ISU), France
- Coauthor
Ms. Gillian Whelan, International Space University (ISU), France
- Coauthor
Ms. Harleen Jolly, Germany
- Year
2005
- Abstract
In today’s society of ever increasing demand for energy and increased focus on the availability, longevity, economic and environmental impacts of currently used energy sources, the question of what will be done in the future to answer these issues is a prevalent one. The ‘Energy Evolution’, which began when humans first learned to domesticate fire, and our subsequent progression through the industrial ages where coal and oil served as our main suppliers of energy, has led us to where we are today – the era of space. Our thirst and demand for increased and sustainable energy sources has always been one of the key factors driving this energy evolution. Today, as our natural resources diminish and our energy demands increase, it becomes painfully clear that new forms of energy production, distribution techniques and sources of energy must be identified and exploited. Satellite observations of our planet have shown us some of the threats that the use of non-renewable, and especially carbon based, fuels pose in this century and beyond. The ‘space age’ has given us a new perspective on how fragile our precious Earth really is, and a new understanding of the processes that govern the evolution of its climate. What implications might this have for our current energy situation – i.e. how can space help? In theory, some of the same technologies that have made the space age a reality could be used to satisfy our species’ thirst for energy in cleaner, less threatening ways. In reality, this can manifest itself in any number of ways – several of which have been under investigation for many years now. A novel approach of applying space-based aid to energy production involves the use of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) combined with a space based element. OTEC works on the basis that a temperature difference between the ocean’s surface and sub-surface depths can be made to produce electrical energy. Since the amount of electrical energy produced is directly dependant on this temperature difference, it can be seen that by increasing the surface temperature of the water slightly, the efficiency of the OTEC plant is increased. In this way, space sunlight reflectors focused on OTEC sites could enhance their energy conversion. As a by-product of this, fresh water is produced. Nutrient rich water from the depths of the ocean is brought to the surface where it enables the growth of phytoplankton, which in turn facilitates the repopulation of certain marine species which have been over-exploited in recent years. Another aspect of space aid to OTEC is via Remote Sensing, which can be used to identify suitable sites for OTEC plants – particularly those which do not interfere with global ocean currents. This paper describes the results of a student team project carried out in Spring 2003 to assesses the feasibility of such techniques in terms of their technological, environmental and economic viability.
- Abstract document