A renewable energy company is set to start developing two sites for a technology that will harness power using the ocean’s "thermal differentials."
"After three years of studying for the ocean service energy contract, we narrowed it down into two, one in the island of Mindoro and one in the island of Panay," Alberto David, chairman of Deep Ocean Power Philippines Inc., told reporters.
Deep ocean power technology utilizes "ocean thermal energy conversion" by capitalizing on temperature differentials between the warm surface water of oceans, heated by solar radiation, and the deep water which is colder, to generate electricity through a heat engine.
The same principle is used in steam turbines and internal combustion engines.
Deep Ocean Power Philippines, a unit of California-based Deep Ocean Power, said it would start to develop two sites out of 36 possible areas to develop deep ocean power technology. Commercial operations for the two sites, which will have 20 megawatts (MW) capacity each, is expected by 2012.
The company believes the country has great potential for such a technology.
"The Philippines is one of the premier locations within the world for our technology due to the extreme thermal difference between the warm surface water and the deeper cold water, because those are the two required elements for our technology. And we have a deep shelf here locally in the Philippines. That’s the reason why we chose the Asia-Pacific region," Derek Murray, company vice-president, said.
Investment cost for deep ocean power technology is "a little bit higher" than wind and solar, which need an average investment of $2.5 million per MW.
"We feel that the oceans here are the oil of the Philippines," Mr. Murray added.
The company is hoping to put on stream the Panay and Mindoro sites three years from now.
"The plan is to put the 10 to 20 MW project initially then as we progress here locally, we will increase in size up to 100 MW over the next several projects. So our goal is to maximize and use all 36 areas," Mr. Murray said.
The technology, according to Mr. Murray, will also have a byproduct of distilled water which could be used by the local community. Aside from this, the company will also produce biodiesel from algae culled through the power generation process.
Deep Ocean Power applied with the Energy department in February to harness 36 sites in the country covering 21,450 hectares.
The Energy department is promoting investments in the renewable energy following the passage of the Renewable Energy law last year.
Department data show 16 possible sites in the country for ocean power development, which include Davao Oriental, the Camarines provinces, Northeastern Samar, Bataan, Surigao, Catanduanes, Siargao, Tacloban, Ilocos Norte, Babuyan Island, and San Bernardino Strait. — Jose Bimbo F. Santos
Source: Business World - Monday, October 26, 2009
RELATED LINKS:
"After three years of studying for the ocean service energy contract, we narrowed it down into two, one in the island of Mindoro and one in the island of Panay," Alberto David, chairman of Deep Ocean Power Philippines Inc., told reporters.
Deep ocean power technology utilizes "ocean thermal energy conversion" by capitalizing on temperature differentials between the warm surface water of oceans, heated by solar radiation, and the deep water which is colder, to generate electricity through a heat engine.
The same principle is used in steam turbines and internal combustion engines.
Deep Ocean Power Philippines, a unit of California-based Deep Ocean Power, said it would start to develop two sites out of 36 possible areas to develop deep ocean power technology. Commercial operations for the two sites, which will have 20 megawatts (MW) capacity each, is expected by 2012.
The company believes the country has great potential for such a technology.
"The Philippines is one of the premier locations within the world for our technology due to the extreme thermal difference between the warm surface water and the deeper cold water, because those are the two required elements for our technology. And we have a deep shelf here locally in the Philippines. That’s the reason why we chose the Asia-Pacific region," Derek Murray, company vice-president, said.
Investment cost for deep ocean power technology is "a little bit higher" than wind and solar, which need an average investment of $2.5 million per MW.
"We feel that the oceans here are the oil of the Philippines," Mr. Murray added.
The company is hoping to put on stream the Panay and Mindoro sites three years from now.
"The plan is to put the 10 to 20 MW project initially then as we progress here locally, we will increase in size up to 100 MW over the next several projects. So our goal is to maximize and use all 36 areas," Mr. Murray said.
The technology, according to Mr. Murray, will also have a byproduct of distilled water which could be used by the local community. Aside from this, the company will also produce biodiesel from algae culled through the power generation process.
Deep Ocean Power applied with the Energy department in February to harness 36 sites in the country covering 21,450 hectares.
The Energy department is promoting investments in the renewable energy following the passage of the Renewable Energy law last year.
Department data show 16 possible sites in the country for ocean power development, which include Davao Oriental, the Camarines provinces, Northeastern Samar, Bataan, Surigao, Catanduanes, Siargao, Tacloban, Ilocos Norte, Babuyan Island, and San Bernardino Strait. — Jose Bimbo F. Santos
Source: Business World - Monday, October 26, 2009
RELATED LINKS:
- Deep Ocean Power Conducting Feasibility Studies in the Philippines - Deep Ocean Power Philippines (DOPP), a subsidiary of US based Deep Ocean Power has been granted 36 permits by the department of energy (DOE) to explore possible sites in the Philippines that can be harnessed for ocean thermal energy conversion.
- Energy Dep't Finalizing Deal to Develop Deep Ocean Power - The Department of Energy (DoE) said it is close to finalizing a contract with a US-based firm to develop deep ocean power technology.
- Alternative Water Pump Technology - Water is life and our island is abundant of it. Yet we don't have running water in our households particularly in small barangays located in hilly areas.
0 comments:
Post a Comment