{"id":30653,"date":"2013-06-19T19:32:56","date_gmt":"2013-06-19T23:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/?p=30653"},"modified":"2013-09-11T03:59:31","modified_gmt":"2013-09-11T07:59:31","slug":"worlds-first-50kw-otec-plant-in-okinawa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/2013\/06\/19\/worlds-first-50kw-otec-plant-in-okinawa\/","title":{"rendered":"World’s Only 50kw OTEC Plant in Okinawa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted by Benjamin Martin<\/strong><\/a>, a 5th year JET on Kume Island<\/a> in Okinawa<\/a>, publisher of the blog MoreThingsJapanese.com<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0and author of the award-winning<\/a> YA fantasy series\u00a0<\/em>Samurai Awakening<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Tuttle).<\/em><\/p>\n

\"IMG_8812_1\"<\/a>June 16th marked the beginning of power generation at Kume Island<\/a>‘s Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Power Plant<\/a> with a ceremony and visiting dignitaries from around Japan and the world. \u00a0The newly completed OTEC power plant will be able to generate up to 50kWs of electricity from a turbine driven by the difference in warm surface sea water and cold deep sea water.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9149\"<\/a>This station is the only power generating OTEC facility of its kind in the world. \u00a0 While OTEC is not a new idea and different countries are now studying its possibilities, this is the first step towards creating an effective market for the future. \u00a0In addition to power, the mineral rich deep-sea waters used by the plant can be used in a variety of industries, making the entire process more efficient and beneficial. \u00a0The station is part of the Okinawa Prefecture Deep Sea Water Research Institute, and as the goal of the institute is to research the deep-sea water, the power plant’s primary role will be as a research and educational tool. Its construction has been part of a continuing dialog on clean energy between Kume Island, Okinawa, and the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and their OTEC project, but was designed and built under advisement from Saga University’s Institute of Ocean Energy.<\/p>\n

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The ceremony marked the official start of power generation after initial testing and the first power generated in March of this year. \u00a0Starting at ten in the morning, visitors were invited to the Research Institute Grounds to view the OTEC plant, sample some of the many products made with deep-sea water, and enjoy entertainment by artists from local to abroad. \u00a0The open fair was followed by a half-hour ceremony with speeches and messages that ended with the pushing of the ‘start’ button. Special guests included:<\/p>\n