ABS grants AIP for ocean thermal floating plant

ABS has granted approval in principle (AIP) to OTEC International (OTI) for its OTEC floating power plant.

The elements of the design evaluated by ABS include the barge hull and mooring system, energy conversion equipment, hazardous materials handling and storage, cold-water import conduit and warm-water reintegration conduit suspended in a moonpool and the interconnection manifold as well as the power transmission cable with securing, anchoring and suspension arrangements.

“Thermal energy conversion demonstrates considerable potential as a renewable energy source, and ABS is proud to partner with innovators like OTI on pioneering projects such as the OTEC FPP,” said ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher Wiernicki.

ABS reviewed the design for a 25-year service life. AIP represents a step closer to the signing of a contract, and OTI is the only company to have received AIP from ABS for OTEC driven platform designs.

Barry Cole, OTI Executive Vice President and Director of Technology Development, said: “OTI has integrated the components of our larger OTEC spar designs into a smaller, floating power platform capable of producing between 5 and 7 MW of consistent, renewable energy.”

The floating power plant (FPP) will have the capacity of 5-7 MW and is designed to generate electricity for a commercial grid in the tropical and sub-tropical zones.

ABS is an international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.

OTEC International (OTI) aims to develop a set of renewable energy solutions suitable for the world’s tropical regions.

[mappress mapid=”241″]

Image: OTI