To Investigate Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Use in Tobago
May 8, 2024 | Views:209145 |
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Office of Research, Impact and Postgraduate Studies
presents a Postgraduate Seminar titled
To Investigate Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Use in Tobago
by Mr. Lynford Cheddie
As of 2023, over 60 % of the electricity produced worldwide comes from non-renewable sources. These forms of power generation utilise fossil fuels which have a negative effect on the environment as they contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. Additionally, natural resources like water are used up in some generation processes, and other processes result in the generation of solid waste, which may include hazardous waste.
In Trinidad and Tobago, electrical power is generated from natural gas which increases our gas emissions and carbon footprint. Trinidad and Tobago's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) aims to achieve a 15% reduction in emissions from three sectors (electricity generation, industry, and transportation) by 2030. At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), two hundred parties came together signalling the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, and to ratchet up climate action to support the international legally binding treaty aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
One practical solution is the use of renewable sources of energy for power generation. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is one such renewable source that is capable of satisfying base-load electricity requirements throughout the year. When implementing this technology there are important physical and environmental requirements, before the location suitability can be met. These criteria must be investigated to ensure that OTEC location conditions are satisfied. This study aims at examining Tobago's north eastern coast as a possible location site for this technology.
The preliminary research found that all of the criteria needed for location suitability in Tobago were satisfied. The distance to cold water intake at 1000m depth was 10km (less than 15km), the depth of the cold-water region was approx. 700m (higher than required), temperature differences were greater than 20°C between hot and cold ocean layers, stable annual temperatures, extreme events were low and environmental concerns were deliberated. As such this study can informed that OTEC technology is an option for electricity generation in Tobago.
Wednesday 8th May, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Lynford Cheddie is a Senior Instructor in the Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship Unit at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the use of ocean thermal energy conversion for Tobago. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Production and Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc). in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of the West Indies.
Mr. Cheddie's research area is in renewable energy and emerging technologies. Apart from academia he has amassed over twenty (20) years of industry experience having worked in the field of mechanical engineering at Trinidad Cement Limited (CEMEX) and the ArcelorMittal Steel Plant. He is a registered engineer and a member of the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago.
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