Renewable Energy | Makai Ocean Engineering

Seabed shape offshore the InterContinental Resort and Spa in Bora Bora. The white line represents the intake pipe which extends 900m deep.

Makai is committed to the research and development of ocean-based renewable energy sources. Makai’s renewable energy engineers are exploring practical ways of harnessing the abundance of natural energy present in the ocean using existing and emerging technologies such as:

Power generation:
Ocean thermal energy conversion; wave, current, tidal, and offshore wind devices; and subsea power cable studies, route analysis and deployment.
Cooling:
Seawater air conditioning; seawater cooling for onshore and offshore industrial processes such as natural gas liquefaction; radiant cooling; and dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS).
Energy exchange and storage:
Marine heat exchangers; thermal energy storage (TES); and compressed air energy storage (CAES).

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a process that can produce electricity by using the temperature difference between deep cold ocean water and warm tropical surface waters. OTEC plants pump large quantities of deep cold seawater and surface seawater to run a power cycle and produce electricity. OTEC is firm power (24/7), a clean energy source, environmentally sustainable and capable of providing massive levels of energy.

Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC)

Seawater Air Conditioning uses a naturally occurring cold water reservoir for air conditioning. Cold water is drawn from a lake or ocean through a deep water intake pipe to a cooling station, where the "cold" is transferred to the buildings via a fresh water loop that never mixes with the ocean or lake water. SWAC can reduce electrical costs associated with cooling by 80 to 90 percent, making it economically attractive in an increasing number of locations worldwide.