Editing Ocean thermal energy conversion (section)

== Currently operating OTEC plants ==

In March 2013, Saga University with various Japanese industries completed the installation of a new OTEC plant. Okinawa Prefecture announced the start of the OTEC operation testing at Kume Island on April 15, 2013. The main aim is to prove the validity of computer models and demonstrate OTEC to the public. The testing and research will be conducted with the support of Saga University until the end of FY 2016. IHI Plant Construction Co. Ltd, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, and Xenesys Inc were entrusted with constructing the 100 kilowatt class plant within the grounds of the Okinawa Prefecture Deep Sea Water Research Center. The location was specifically chosen in order to utilize existing deep seawater and surface seawater intake pipes installed for the research center in 2000. The pipe is used for the intake of deep sea water for research, fishery, and agricultural use.
The plant consists of two 50&nbsp;kW units in double Rankine configuration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://otecokinawa.com/en/Project/index.html|title=OTEC Okinawa Project |website=otecokinawa.com}}</ref> The OTEC facility and deep seawater research center are open to free public tours by appointment in English and Japanese.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://otecokinawa.com/en/Contact/index.html|title=Contact|website=otecokinawa.com}}</ref> Currently, this is one of only two fully operational OTEC plants in the world. This plant operates continuously when specific tests are not underway.

In 2011, Makai Ocean Engineering completed a heat exchanger test facility at NELHA. Used to test a variety of heat exchange technologies for use in OTEC, Makai has received funding to install a 105&nbsp;kW turbine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nelha.hawaii.gov/energy-portfolio/|title=Administered by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority - Energy Portfolio|website=nelha.hawaii.gov}}</ref> Installation will make this facility the largest operational OTEC facility, though the record for largest power will remain with the Open Cycle plant also developed in Hawaii.

In July 2014, DCNS group partnered with Akuo Energy announced NER 300 funding for their NEMO project. If the project was successful, the 16&nbsp;MW gross 10&nbsp;MW net offshore plant would have been the largest OTEC facility to date. DCNS planned to have NEMO operational by 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naval-group.com/en/news/akuo-energy-and-dcns-awarded-european-ner-300-funding-a-crucial-step-for-the-marine-renewable-energy-sector/|title=Akuo Energy and DCNS awarded European NER 300* funding: a crucial step for the marine renewable energy sector|website=Naval Group}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=October 2021}} Early in April 2018, Naval Energies shut down the project indefinitely due to technical difficulties relating to the main cold-water intake pipe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Finding NEMO proves challenging for the French|url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/finding-nemo-proves-challenging-for-the-french/|website=Offshore Energy|date=19 June 2018 }}</ref>

An ocean thermal energy conversion power plant built by Makai Ocean Engineering went operational in Hawaii in August 2015. The governor of Hawaii, [[David Ige]], "flipped the switch" to activate the plant.  This is the first true closed-cycle ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant to be connected to a U.S. electrical grid. It is a demo plant capable of generating 105 kilowatts, enough to power about 120 homes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Owano |first1=Nancy |title=Celebrating Hawaii ocean thermal energy conversion power plant |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2015-08-celebrating-hawaii-ocean-thermal-energy.html |work=Tech Xplore }}</ref>