Renewable energy source for Diego Garcia

The US Navy desires to improve the reliability and reduce the cost of providing utility services at NSF Diego Garcia. To achieve these goals, the Navy intends to use a public/private venture (PPV) agreement whereby a private entity will contract to replace and/or upgrade existing utility equipment. The PPV contractor will also be responsible for maintaining and operating such utilities for an anticipated period of 30 years. A Request for Proposals was issued in April 1998 and selection of the PPV contractor is anticipated by September 1998. Although contractors are at liberty to select the utility service method(s), strong encouragement has been given to use a renewable energy resource such as ocean thermal energy. This paper discusses the infrastructure needs of Diego Garcia, specific environmental issues of concern and the merits of various ocean energy technologies to meet the Navy´s utility goals. The history of the competitive process which led to solicitation, receipt and evaluation of industry proposals is reviewed. Results of a student design competition to identify the ocean energy resource which best satisfies the utility needs of NSF Diego Garcia are also presented