British climate-tech innovator Global OTEC has announced a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionize tropical energy access. The company is set to deploy its first energy-generating onshore pilot, the OTEC Power Module®. This compact and modular power plant harnesses the ocean’s natural temperature gradient to produce continuous and clean electricity.

Unlike previous Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) projects which were primarily research-focused, this pilot represents a leap towards scalability and commercial viability. It is designed to showcase the readiness of the technology for mass production in over 100 tropical and subtropical regions where it holds immense potential.

The onshore demonstration will utilize existing deep seawater intake sites to leverage the temperature differential between warm surface water and cold deep ocean water. Through an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system equipped with next-generation components, the OTEC Power Module® can generate up to 500 kW of clean baseload power continuously, day and night, throughout the year.

Global OTEC is currently finalizing the selection of a location for the pilot project, with plans to commence operations this year. The primary objectives of the initiative are to validate the technical performance, cost efficiency, and replicability of the OTEC Power Module® in preparation for offshore trials.

From powering remote subsea infrastructure to supplying energy for ports, data centers, and island communities, the OTEC Power Module® offers a sustainable alternative for long subsea tiebacks, resulting in a significant reduction in capital expenditures.

This groundbreaking pilot follows Global OTEC’s recent introduction of the Power Module® at the 1st Brazilian Workshop on Geothermal Energy Utilization and Storage, hosted by Petrobras. Concurrently, the company is progressing with the construction of a floating, storm-resistant prototype in Gran Canaria, Spain, showcasing the integrated energy system and structural innovations essential for scaling OTEC offshore.