WAVEC
Advancing ocean thermal energy technology and marine renewable energy solutions through innovative research and sustainable blue economy development.
What is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)?
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is an ocean-based renewable energy source that uses the natural temperature difference between the surface and the depths of the marine environment to produce electricity. An emerging technology that has been tested in various settings, OTEC is best suited for tropical climates where the temperature gradient within the ocean is larger. As such, OTEC is increasingly being viewed as an alternative energy source for island communities who can use their vast marine resources to produce sustainable, green energy capable of reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.
The Client: WavEC Offshore Renewables
WavEC Offshore Renewables is part of PLOTEC, a pan-European consortium which is designing an OTEC platform capable of withstanding the extreme weather effects found in tropical areas, making it a more resilient and reliable energy source for users. Keen to leverage local knowledge and understand the challenges and solutions that island experts and stakeholders might have related to OTEC deployment, WavEC identified Island Innovation and its network as key entities to engage with.
Stakeholder Interviews and Policy Brief
Island Innovation was tasked with creating a policy brief to support WavEC and the wider PLOTEC network's decision-making when it comes to engaging with island stakeholders.
The policy brief itself would be based on the interviews of 33 inter-disciplinary experts from tropical island territories in the Caribbean, AIMS, and Pacific in which OTEC could be deployed. Sourced from Island Innovation's network, these experts represented 17 islands and a range of sectors and industries that would be affected by or interact with a local OTEC project. These qualitative interviews yielded valuable data and insights which were translated into recommendations and policy considerations specific to the development of an OTEC project within an island community.
Supporting the interviews were reviews of island-based energy developments, as well as the analysis of gray and white papers, culminating in a 40-page policy brief which provided a comprehensive overview of potential challenges and solutions OTEC could face and how best to approach them.
Awareness Raising
In addition to the policy brief, Island Innovation was tasked with raising awareness of OTEC among island stakeholders. The awareness campaign was centered around Island Innovation's 2024 Virtual Island Summit (VIS), an annual online week-long conference boasting high-level experts from islands which draws roughly 10,000 attendees.
Island Innovation's social media platforms and newsletter were leveraged to raise awareness of OTEC, with several dedicated posts and inserts made highlighting the technology and PLOTEC's involvement in the 2024 VIS, where the organization was provided with a panel slot to highlight and discuss the technology and its merits to the VIS audience. Over 500 people attended the live session.
