Ocean thermal energy conversion contribution to the energy needs of the United States

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) can provide energy to the United States via direct electric transmission from offshore U.S. island or Gulf of Mexico sites, or via production of an energy-intensive product on an OTEC plantship sited in tropical waters . Ammonia is an outstanding choice for the second option. Projected costs of OTEC ammonia and electricity after 1990 are competitive with projected costs from natural gas and from coal or nuclear plants, respectively.