OTEC and salinity power: Overview
Power from warm and cold seas, or fresh water meeting salt
What this tile covers Plants that use the ocean's temperature or salt differences; some OTEC plants also make fresh water. Share of use 0% share of world energy supply (2025)Share of world total energy supply captured or extracted by each method, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method); electricity from wind, solar, hydro and geothermal is counted at output, nuclear at reactor heat. Heat and biomass flows outside EI's total are set against the same 592.2 EJ. OTEC plants of about 0.1 MW and one osmotic plant of about 0.88 GWh a year; share rounds to zero. Source: Japan's first osmotic power plant begins operations in Fukuoka, Japan Science and Technology Agency (Science Japan).
Key facts
| Output | Electricity, fresh water |
Included from the reference tables
- OTEC: closed-cycle, open-cycle and hybrid
- Pressure-retarded osmosis
- Reverse electrodialysis
Also in Water and ocean
HyD Hydropower damsHyR Run-of-river and small hydroWEC Wave energy convertersTdP Tidal and ocean-current powerExplore paths from here
More on this tile in the tabs above: efficiency, techniques, resources and labour, impact on the biosphere.