Offshore contractor Allseas says it has acquired Bluerise, a developer of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology, in a push targeting the renewables industry.
Based in Delft, the Netherlands, Bluerise, founded by Berend Jan Kleute and Remi Blokker, has been researching and developing OTEC technology for nine years, designing systems that utilize the natural temperature difference in the ocean between cold deep water (5°C) and warm surface water (25°C) to generate clean electricity.
OTEC generates renewable energy by harnessing the heat in ocean surface water to evaporate liquids with a low boiling point (such as ammonia). The vapor drives a turbine that generates electricity. After the vapor transfers its energy, a heat exchanger condenser cools the vapor, turns it back into liquid and a pump conveys it to the heat exchanger evaporator to repeat the cycle.
Allseas, which says it is fostering the use of renewable energy sources, believes OTEC holds vast offshore energy potential and scalability, and says it matches well with its current capabilities.
The company says it aims to use its offshore expertise and record of deepwater technologies to advance Bluerise concepts and accelerate the implementation of OTEC technology for renewable energy projects.
