The economics of solar sea power plants

Of the many novel solar energy schemes being investigated in the United States, the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Concept, OTEC, appears to be the one most likely to put the U.S. on the road towards energy self-sufficiency in the shortest possible time. The paper will illustrate how a solar sea power plant will convert the thermal energy stored in the tropical oceans into electricity. The main emphasis will be on capital plant cost and energy cost. Comparison with conventional nuclear plants will be made based on cost, energy pay-back and development time.