India Turns Ocean Temperature Into Round-the-Clock Power
What Happened
India is building an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant on Kavaratti island in Lakshadweep. The project will use the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold water drawn from about 1,000 metres below the ocean to generate 65 kilowatts of electricity and produce 100,000 litres of fresh water per day. Unlike solar and wind energy, the ocean temperature gradient exists day and night, allowing the plant to generate power around the clock.
Key Takeaways
If successful, the project could provide a reliable clean-energy solution for remote islands by delivering electricity, desalinated water, and reduced dependence on diesel fuel from a single system. It could become a model for other tropical island communities around the world.
Sources
Zme Science, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Report on NIOT