Thermocean

This year (MECC 2026), we will take a different route of power generation by implementing an ocean thermocline energy system, drawing power from temperature differentials found in tropical oceans. The energy system will be coupled with temperature-based membrane distillation to desalinate water at minimal cost. The team will explore the additional possibility of recovering mechanical energy from waves to, to power the system's pumps and controls. Membrane distillation is a specialty of professor Warsinger, but using it for ocean thermoclines concept has been thoroughly investigated in Dr. Warsinger’s Water Lab and has the advantage of using most of the desalination set-up and parts for energy recovery.