On August 21st a dedication ceremony at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority in Kona was held to celebrate completion of the world’s largest operational ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plant. This was a major achievement for Hawaii, the U.S. and marine renewable energy. This test plant will generate 100 kilowatts of clean, continuous, sustainable electricity and is expected to be a stepping stone to larger plants that will be cost competitive options for electrical power for Hawaii and other island locations in Asia Pacific OTEC uses the temperature difference between deep cold ocean water and warm surface water to boil liquid ammonia, which can then drive a turbine to generate electricity. It is estimated that ocean thermal energy conversion has the potential to generate over four times the total electricity usage of the planet. See the Pacific Business News. Category: Cool Tech