Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

OTEC Country Notes

French Polynesia
Feasibility studies in France concluded that a 5 MW land-based pilot plant should be built with Tahiti as the test site. An industrial grouping, Ergocean and Ifremer (the French institute for research and exploitation of the sea) undertook extensive further evaluation (of both closed and open cycle) and operation of the prototype plant was initially expected at the end of the 1980s, but the falling price of oil caused development to be halted. Ifremer continues to keep the situation under review and has been active in the European Union.

Specifically, Ifremer with various partners has examined DOWA desalination, since a much smaller (1 m diameter) cold water pipe would be needed. Techno-economic studies have been completed but further development is on hold.