British climate-tech innovator Global OTEC has announced the imminent deployment of its first energy-generating onshore pilot, the OTEC Power Module – a compact, modular power plant that turns the ocean’s natural temperature gradient into continuous, clean electricity.
Unlike previous Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) projects, which have been primarily research-based, this pilot will demonstrate real-world scalability and readiness for mass production.
‘We’ve moved beyond proving the concept – we’re setting out the blueprints for the commercialisation of a new category of renewable energy,’ said Dan Grech, founder and CEO of Global OTEC. ‘This demonstration plant is designed to be repeatable, compact and efficient, enabling a new generation of offshore infrastructure powered reliably by the ocean.’
The demonstration will be deployed onshore, drawing from existing deep-seawater intake sites to tap into the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep-ocean water. This natural gradient will drive an organic Rankine cycle system with next-generation components, generating up to 500 kW of clean baseload power, day and night, all year round. Global OTEC expects to finalise a location this year. The project aims to validate the technical performance, cost efficiency and replicability of the OTEC Power Module ahead of offshore trials.
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According to the company, the OTEC Power Module is a game-changer for offshore operations. From powering remote subsea pumps and wells to providing energy for ports, data centres and island communities, the technology offers a low-carbon alternative for long subsea tiebacks, reducing CAPEX by half.
The pilot comes soon after Global OTEC introduced the Power Module at the first Brazilian Workshop on Geothermal Energy Utilization and Storage, hosted by Petrobras. In parallel, the company is advancing construction of its floating, storm-resistant prototype in Gran Canaria, Spain, showcasing both the energy system and structural innovations required to scale OTEC offshore. ‘Moving beyond whitepapers and lab tests, building physical OTEC systems is essential,’Grech added. ‘Our vision is a future where OTEC is seen as a cornerstone of the global energy transition.’