9th International OTEC Symposium

The International OTEC Symposia have taken place since 2013, each time hosted by a separate organizing committee in each host country. The Ocean Thermal Energy Association (OTEA) guides the overall organization of these events from 2020. This latest symposium will take place May 4-5, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

The 9th International OTEC Symposium took place alongside the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston Texas in 2023

  • Dates: May 4-5, 2023
  • Organizers: Excipio Energy
  • Sponsor: Shell
  • Venue: Greentown Labs and Virtual (via Zoom)
    • 4200 San Jacinto Street, Houston, TX 77004
  • Participation: In-person or Online
  • Contact: n/a

Registration and Fees

Registration has closed.

Participation

This was a hybrid event with interactive in-person/online opportunities. All presentations were be recorded and will be available to review after the event.

Fees

Live Attendance (non-speaker) : $150

Virtual Participation: Free

Program

The most current program is available for download as a PDF.

Thursday May 4th, 2023 8:00~17:45

  • 8:00-9:00 Registration
  • 9:00-9:25 Welcome
  • 9:30-10:00 Keynote 1
  • 10:10-10:50 Session 1 – Cold Water Pipes
  • 11:00-11:40 Opening Panel – Cold Water Pipes
  • 12:40-13:30 Keynote 2
  • 13:10-14:10 Session 2 – Policy and Projects 1
  • 14:20-15:20 Session 3 – Policy and Projects 2
  • 15:30-16:50 Session 4 – Technology
  • 17:00-17:40 Panel 2 – Policy and Projects

Reception 17:45~19:45

Friday May 5th, 2023 8:00~17:00

  • 8:30-9:30 Registration
  • 9:30-9:40 Welcome
  • 9:40-10:10 Keynote 3
  • 10:30-11:30 Session 5 – Power Cycle 1
  • 11:30-12:10 Panel 3 – Technology
  • 13:10-14:10 Session 6 – Power Cycle 2
  • 14:40-16:00 Session 7 – Economics
  • 16:00-16:50 Closing Discussion

Keynote Speakers

Dr. IKEGAMI Yasuyuki

Professor IKEGAMI Yasuyuki is director of the Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University. He has led a distinguished career having joined the University in 1991, leading the research and development of OTEC and other ocean energy technologies there. He is the delegate from Japan on Executive Committee of IEA-Ocean Energy Systems, Delegate from Japan of IEC/TC114 on OTEC, and chair of the Ocean Thermal Energy Association’s Executive Committee.

Dr. Miguel Alatorre

Dr. Miguel Angel Alatorre Mendieta, Mexico.  Bachelors of Science in Physics, Phd.  in Marine Hydraulic Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).  His main fieldwork is in physical oceanography.  Dr. Miguel has participated in oceanographic research in the Equatorial Pacific and East, in the Northern Atlantic and Equatorial Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Caribbean Sea.  Since the 1990s Dr. Alatorre has had an interest in ocean energy exploitation and has been a pioneer in this field in Mexico.  He was part of a team that designed and built a cleanup system for coastal lagoons using energy produced by waves.  This is a world-wide innovation and is currently being used in Cuba. Dr. Alatorre has been interested in the installation of OTEC plants in Mexico for the past 15 years.  He is a leader in his country in projects which study the feasibility of such plants in Mexico.

Dr. Purnima Jalihal

Dr Purnima Jalihal is a senior scientist who heads the Energy and Fresh Water group in the National Institute of Ocean Technology, India. She has led device developments for harnessing ocean energy from waves, marine currents and ocean thermal gradient (OTEC) and has played a major role in developing ocean thermal desalination technology. She has a PhD in Civil Engineering from Duke University, USA.  She was awarded the Vishwakarma Medal in 2006 by the Indian National Science.  She is on many committees of Indian Government organizations, related to water and renewable energy and is the EU led Clean Energy Mission Innovation Champion for India, 2020.  She is currently the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Ocean Energy Systems (OES) Technology Collaboration Program (TCP) under the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Logistics

There are two major airports in Houston including George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU). Depending on the airline you use, either may be used. Given the high profile Offshore Technology Conference, we suggest reserving hotels as soon as possible. The Greentown Labs venue is just off I-69 in mid-town Houston. The downtown area provides many high-end hotel options. The Galleria area near I-610 and the I-69 junction also provide many lower-cost options. Transportation to the venue is not included in the participation cost, however, other participants may be able to assist. Let the secretariat know if you need assistance.

Some additional (humorous) information from our US Delegate (located in Houston):

1. You must first learn to pronounce the city name, HOUston. Foreigners are still allowed to call it YOUston 
2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00 am to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7:00 pm. Friday’s rush hour starts on Thursday morning. 
3. The minimum acceptable speed on I-45 is 80 mph. On 99 and 59, your speed is expected to at least match the highway number. Anything less is considered ‘Wussy’. 
4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Houston has its own version of traffic rules. For example, Ferraris and Lamborghinis owned by sports stars go first at a four-way stop. Cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go second. The trucks with the biggest tires go third. The HOV lanes are really designed just for the slow Louisianans passing through who are used to hogging the left lane everywhere.
5. If you actually stop at a yellow light or stop sign, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot. Unless there is a police car nearby, 
(Seriously, be careful in yellow lights. And You do need to stop completely at a stop sign or you will be fined) .
6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It’s another offense that can get you shot. 
7. Road construction is permanent and continuous. Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day’s driving a bit more exciting. Generally, city roads other than the main streets have more potholes and bumps (usually speed bumps) than most dirt roads in the countryside.
8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, ladders, possums, skunks, dogs, barrels, cones, furniture, cats, mattresses, shredded tires, squirrels, rabbits, and crows. 
9. Be aware that spelling of street names may change from block to block. 610 may be South loop west, East loop south etc. 
10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been “accidentally activated”. 
11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 75 in a 55-65 mph zone, k, e.g., you are considered a road hazard and will be “flipped off” accordingly. If you return the flip, you’ll be shot. 
MOST IMPORTANT: If you get LOST, Look for I-45 or I-10… Then you are somewhere in Houston.

Submissions

Submissions are now closed. Thank you to all who submitted abstracts.