For the first time in 2013 in Hawaii, the International OTEC Symposium is an annual event that brings together OTEC industry, researcher, students, market experts, NGO’s and governments from all over the world. This year, the symposium originally scheduled to be held October 2020 in Cancun Mexico. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused global uncertainties about the future, especially regarding in-person conferences and international travel. Therefore the 8th International OTEC symposium will be held entirely online on 27 - 29 January 2021.

The main objective is to share the latest advances in research, applications and use of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) around the world. The Symposium provides the framework for networking and collaboration among the wide variety of international speakers and participants.

This event is being organized by the 8th International OTEC Symposium Executive and Local Committee. The Chairman of the committees is Dr. Miguel Angel Alatorre Mendieta of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).