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OTEC is an intriguing technology, but unfortunately seems to be doomed to a niche role. There is one operating OEC plant that I am familiar with, on a South Pacific island. but it produces only a couple of hundred kW, and it seems that making a much larger one is neither economically nor thermodynamically worthwhile. But it could be something that would be useful for isolated islands with proper water conditions. Not likely to be a major factor in our energy portfolio though.
I haven't read every post on this thread, but there are two potential energy
sources that seem to always be overlooked. One is OTEC (Ocean Thermal
Energy Conversion); energy produced by using the temperature differential in
the deep oceans, and the other is tidal (think underwater "windmills"). One
of the biggest problems with energy generation/usage is transmission and
storage, and these impact greatly on OTEC.