Tel: +603-2615 4354/ +6011-3704 0793

Fax: +603-2615 4283

E-MAIL: utmotec@utm.my

WEBSITE: otec.utm.my

Malaysia is not yet on any global map showing

the areas with the potential of generating ocean-

thermal energy. However, with the completion of

a recent marine survey in the South China Sea

during the period 2006-08 (MyMRS), it has been

confirmed that indeed the temperature at the

bottom of the North-Borneo Trough (and also

known as “Sabah Tough”) at a water depth of

2900 metres (m) is about 3°C, compared to that

of the surface at about 29º C.

Ocean thermal energy field is expected to play

an important role for the renewable energy sec-

tor. The discovery of thermal energy potential in

„‟Sabah Trough” have promising huge returns.

In an effort to explore this area and strengthen

the research has lead to the setting up of UTM

Ocean Thermal En-

ergy Centre (OTEC).

The centre has been

in operation since

January 2013.

The meaning of Al-Qur’an 24:40.

or like darkness on a bottomless ocean spread with clashing billows and overcastwith clouds: darkness upon darkness. If he streches out his hand he can scarcely see it. Indeed the man from whom God witholds His light shall find no light at all.

UTM OTEC History

UTM OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CENTER (UTM OTEC)

HARNESSING ENERGY AND MAKE BILLIONS FROM THE OCEANS

Ground Floor, Block Q, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan yahya Petra (Jalan Semarak),

54100 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tel: +603-2615 4354 Fax: +603-2615 4283

E-MAIL: utmotec@utm.my WEBSITE: otec.utm.my

UTM OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CENTER (UTM OTEC)

UTM OTEC OFFICE (BLOCK Q, UTM, KL)

UTM OTEC Organization Structure

Global OTEC Potential and Development

OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION

A method of converting part of the heat from the Sun which is stored in the surface layers of a body of water into electrical energy or energy product equivalent.

ENERGY PRODUCT EQUIVALENT

An energy carrier including, but not limited to,

ammonia, hydrogen, or molten salts or an en-

ergy-intensive commodity, including, but not

limited to, electrometals, fresh water, or nutri-

ents for a aquaculture.

Ocean thermal energy conversion relies on the

fact that water near the surface is heated by

sunlight while seawater deep in the dark is

much colder. OTEC plants work by using warm

surface water to heat ammonia or some other

fluid that boils at a low temperature to produce

gas used to drive the turbines needed to pro-

duce electricity.

Benefits

The distinctive feature of OTEC is the potential to provide baseload electricity and hydrogen fuel.

OTEC benefits

Next to producing electricity and hydrogen fuel OTEC also offers the possibility of co-generating other synergistic products, like fresh water, nutrients for enhanced fish farming and seawater cooled greenhouses enabling food production in arid re-gions. Last but not least, the cold water can be used in building air-conditioning systems. Energy savings of up to 90% can be realized.

Spin-off Products:

Fresh Water: The first by-product is fresh wa-

ter. A small hybrid 1 MW OTEC is capable of producing some 4,500 cubic meters of fresh water per day, enough to supply a population of 20,000 with fresh water. OTEC-produced fresh water compares very favourably with standard desalination plants, in terms of both quality and production costs.

Food: A further by-product is nutrient rich cold

water from the deep ocean. The cold “waste” water from the OTEC is utilised in two ways. Primarily the cold water is discharged into large contained ponds, near shore or on land, where the water can be used for multi-species maricul-ture producing harvest yields which far surpass naturally occurring cold water upwelling zones, just like agriculture on land.

Cooling: The cold water is also available as

chilled water for cooling greenhouses, such as the Seawater Greenhouse or for cold bed agri-culture. The cold water can also be used for air conditioning systems or more importantly for

refrigeration systems, most likely linked with creating cold storage facilities for preserving food. When the cold water has been used it is released to the deep ocean.

What is OTEC

Schematic of OTEC system

OTEC Power Plant off Martinique illustration. Image by DCNS

Product from OTEC Industry Including hydrogen fuel, deep sea water industry (temperate agriculture, mariculture and deep-sea mineral water). Image from Dato’ A.Bakar Jaafar Presentation.

Ground Floor, Block Q, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan yahya Petra (Jalan Semarak),

54100 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tel: +603-2615 4354/+6011-3704 0793 Fax: +603-2615 4283

E-MAIL: utmotec@utm.my WEBSITE: otec.utm.my

UTM OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CENTER (UTM OTEC)