The above bathymetry of Hawaii [this large poster is located just outside my office in the Mauka (mountainside) hallway of the Pacific Ocean Science and Technology building on the Manoa Campus of the University of Hawaii] shows where an OTEC land-based facility for the total package of co-products (as for example, a 2 MW system to power a major resort area next to a "blue" industrial park) or plantship can be placed if the purpose is to supply electricity. Among the more favorable locations are:
- the south and east side of Kauai
- southwest side of Oahu
- southeast side of Maui
- southwest and east side of the Big Island (the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (below) is at the western tip of the Big Island near the Keahole-Kona Airport):
However, numerous other sites seem available, as for example, from Kealakekua Bay all the way around South Point and towards the Volcanoes Natural Park, and southwest of Hilo around the point in the Puna Region.
The coastline from Makena to Hana and further northwest seems worthy of further investigation. Kahoolawe also looks intriguing on the south side. Lanai and Molokai do not look promising.
For Oahu, almost the entire southern coastline from near Kaena Point to Makapuu can be considered.
Almost the entire south and west coastlines from Kekaha to Kealia can be checked for Kauai. The general area near Port Allen has always been one of my personal favorite possible locations.
Of course, the deep cold water can be utilized to start new marine industries, so a relatively flat area at an elevation near sea level would also be required for a land-based facility. It would be best to keep away from any environmentally sensitive or culturally sacred sites. Probably wise to also not bother whales.
Of course, a floating plantship to produce the cornucopia of mari-products without cabling electricity to land can go just about anywhere, although temperature differentials are more favorable (the redder, the better) along the western side of the Hawaiian Islands (courtesy of Gerard Nihous):
The Blue Revolution is a concept to combine the full potential, from next generation fisheries to remediating global warming and retarding the formation of hurricanes. Blue Revolution Hawaii is spearheading this effort.
Hurricanes? Eventually, floating structures can be designed to minimize the effect of storms. However, ultimately, very large systems will be located near the equator, for no hurricane has been known to cross that line around our globe.
NEXT WEEK: How much will it cost and who might build the next operational prototype, 1 MW experimental facility, 5-10 MW pre-commercial system and 100 MW commercial OTEC plant ship. The first two will be on land, while the latter two must be floated because the warm and cold water effluents cannot be contained on land.
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