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Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi (NELHA) at Keahole on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi
It all started at Keahole …
If you live on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, you may remember the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) research program at the NELHA Laboratory, sandwiched just makai of Keahole Airport in Kona. For years, this tiny slice of scientifically valuable real estate was the center of the universe for deep ocean and OTEC research, and scientists from around the world descended upon its deep ocean bound pipes to test theory after theory on renewable energy solutions, as well as a myriad of other applications. Although the pipes still remain today for commercial deep ocean water production, the OTEC research pilot facilities were decommissioned and disassembled in the late 90’s once all was said and done and everybody had all the information and scientific data they had come for.
From this crucial period, a few of these scientists were able to take their findings and perfect a modular power plant design for mass commercial use. One of these scientists was Dr. Stephen Oney: Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President at Honolulu based Ocean Engineering And Energy Systems (OCEES). When asked where the technology lies in our present day, Dr. Oney had this to say:
“Today, it’s simply a matter of scaling up; we know that the technology works and because of its modular design, we’ll soon be able build power plants of significant size to fit modern day needs. In the next few years, we should be able to power anything from a small tropical community to larger island populations; it’s all essentially the same design.”
Dr. Oney was a ripe young sponge of a grad student back in the hay-day of OTEC research, and studied through the University of Hawaiʻi at the Keahole research facility on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. “I was simply in the right place at the right time,” he humbly adds. Today, Dr. Oney is widely recognized himself, as one of the world’s leading experts on deep ocean technologies.
Example of an OTEC plant complex – Image courtesy of OCEES International
Perpetual, Limitless Energy
The resounding advantage to an OTEC power plant is that it is essentially perpetual — once you kick it off, it runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and powers itself from the solar energy stored and replenished from the tropical oceans each day. It’s that simple! In stark contrast to the more intermittent power sources garnering all of the attention these days, particularly solar and wind.
Although solar and wind are viable and valuable technologies, they share a common drawback – they only work half time, at best! Photovoltaic panels rely on sunshine to produce electricity, and unless you’re at the extreme poles at certain times of the year, they can only average a half day of sun. Same with wind; “If it’s not blowin’, electricity ain’t flowin’.”
Nutrient-Rich Deep Water, Energy Savings
The other highly beneficial attribute of an OTEC power plant is its incredibly useful by-processes. From one OTEC plant a multitude of resources can be produced – the likes of which have never been seen before in such sheer quantity. Starting of course, with the production of electricity to power the plant itself and the grid of the tropical island or city; millions of gallons per day of fresh desalinated potable drinking water can be produced, simply as part of the energy production process.
Beyond that, since OTEC produces nutrient-rich and pathogen-free deep ocean water, many high-value saltwater species can be cultivated for the rapidly growing industry of aquaculture. Already, a number of cold water species such as Maine lobster and abalone are being successfully farmed in the arid desert of Hawaiʻi’s Kona coast — the last place they would be expected to survive.
Cold water makes all the difference. A similar principle applies to chilled-soil agriculture, allowing for the propagation of a plethora of temperate plant species that would otherwise not survive a day in the hot Hawaiian soil. The cold water can also be used to air-condition surrounding homes and businesses, reducing energy consumption by as much as 50 to 90%. Hydrogen can also be produced via electrolysis, using the limitless energy of the ocean, and the resources of the OTEC plant.
Is the time right for OTEC?
OCEES International is at the forefront of what may be one of the greatest natural energy resources this planet has ever seen. Energy leaders have been looking closely at this technology for decades. Is the time ripe to fully leverage this technology? Hawaiʻi offers promising answers for many of the world’s sustainability questions. As the home to many small and growing energy innovators, Hawaiʻi truly is the world’s ideal petri dish.
