Abstract
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is a form of solar energy that can produce electricity on a non-intermittent basis. In this paper, a regionally disaggregated global energy system model with a detailed treatment of the electricity supply sector is used to examine the competitiveness of OTEC technologies for each of 48 world regions over the period to 2050 under a constraint of halving global energy-related CO2emissions in 2050 compared to the 2000 level. It is first shown that an over 20% reduction in the reference OTEC electricity generation costs would enable OTEC technologies to account for a noticeable share of the global electricity generation by 2050 under the CO2constraint. It is then shown that by-products from OTEC technologies could significantly enhance their cost competitiveness in the global electricity generation sector. It is finally shown that southeastern Asia (mainly Indonesia and Timor-Leste), Latin America (mainly Central America), and Oceania are the regions attractive for the deployment of OTEC technologies.
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