Let's dive [literally] into the idea of ​​turning the ocean into a giant battery. Come with me to understand how the ocean can be the key to an inexhaustible source of renewable energy.

What if we use the ocean as a power plant? The idea is old, but it is still in its infancy. A Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, or OTEC, takes advantage of the difference in temperature between the hot water at the surface and the cold water at the depths. It's simple: hot water evaporates a fluid (like ammonia), which generates steam and drives a turbine. Then, the cold water from the bottom cools the steam, and the cycle begins again. And the best part: it works 24 hours a day!

Giant challenges, piping and costs

But it's not as easy as it seems, for starters, you need giant tubes to bring cold water from the bottom of the ocean to the surface. And these tubes have to be stable and flexible at the same time, to withstand the impact of waves and currents. Not to mention that storms can destroy everything, as happened with one of the first plants there in 1930.

The cost of a 100-megawatt OTEC plant can range between $780 million and $1,5 billion. And there's still the environmental issue: The process moves an absurd amount of ocean water, which can have impacts that we still don't really know.

The future of OTEC, between hope and reality

Although OTEC has enormous potential, there is still a lot of investment and research needed to make this technology take off. Current plants are too small to answer all our questions. And, in the last ten years, little progress has been made.

So, will the ocean be our next big source of renewable energy? The idea is great, but there's still a lot of water to roll. For now, OTEC is more of a promise than a reality. But who knows, right? In the world of renewable energy, everything is possible!