Power/energy: Thermal energy conversion: Tapping the sea depths: Floating energy plants could convert heat stored at different ocean levels to electric power

Discusses ocean thermal energy conversion [OTEC] in the light of the United States $38 million expenditure on that technology in 1979. The authors consider electricity to shore schemes in this article suggesting that the potential for electric energy in ocean thermal gradients off the United States and its islands is of the order of 200 CrW. Costs are such that a 250 MW scheme off Puerto Rica could be less than those of a combined cycle oil fired plant by 1990 if oil prices continue to rise.