The Future of Renewable Energy: OTE Corp Secures Contract for OTEC System at US Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll

The U.S. renewable energy company Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation (OTE Corp) has recently announced a groundbreaking development in the field of sustainable energy. OTE Corp has secured a $3.5 million contract from Johnson Controls for engineering planning and design under the U.S. Army’s Deep Energy Retrofit Assessment program at the U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll (USAG-KA), a remote installation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

OTE Corp aims to demonstrate the feasibility of deploying a 17.5 MW ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system, which will provide a sustainable energy solution that reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels. This initiative aligns with the Army’s strategic goals of enhancing energy security and resilience at critical installations like Kwajalein Atoll.

Key Objectives and Partnerships

DCO Energy, serving as the owner’s engineer, will be responsible for developing an OTEC system design covering load analysis, conceptual engineering, and cost estimation. The contract outlines key objectives, including evaluating the practicality of deploying OTEC systems for remote military sites, ensuring reliability and scalability under real-world conditions, and customizing OTEC solutions for uninterrupted power supply and water desalination in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

OTE Corp’s OTEC technology leverages the ocean’s natural temperature gradient to generate continuous power and desalinated water. In addition to energy generation, the team will explore the potential for seawater desalination to enhance water resilience at the USAG-KA site.

Jeremy P. Feakins, Chairman and CEO of OTE Corp, expressed excitement about the partnership with Johnson Controls, stating, “This initiative not only enhances operational resilience for military bases but also represents a significant step forward in integrating renewable energy into national defense strategies.”

OTE Corp’s Clean Energy Solutions

OTE Corp specializes in developing and operating clean hydrothermal energy plants using OTEC and seawater air conditioning (SWAC) technologies. The company provides 24/7 baseload electricity, energy-efficient cooling systems, and potable water, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Looking ahead, OTE Corp and its partners continue to drive innovation in the renewable energy sector. At the end of 2023, Makai Ocean Engineering signed an agreement with Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program to further develop and test transformative proprietary technologies that advance the engineering and economic viability of offshore ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems.