AUG. 21, 2015: Gov. David Ige and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard prepare to untie the maile lei at the OTEC dedication in Kona.

KAILUA-KONA – The completion of the world’s largest operational Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion power plant was celebrated at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority on Friday. The event included a dedication ceremony attended by Hawaii dignitaries and investors in the Makai Ocean Engineering project.

Hawaii Governor David Ige “flipped the switch” to activate the OTEC plant for the first time just before noon.

“Today marks the launch of the world’s largest operational ocean thermal power plant. This plant provides a much-needed test bed to commercialize ocean thermal energy conversion technology and bolster innovation, and it serves as a stepping stone to larger plants that will provide meaningful amounts of stable, clean power to Hawaii and other locations in Asia Pacific such as Okinawa in the near future.” – Gov. David Ige

Makai says the facility is the “first true closed-cycle OTEC plant to be connected to a U.S. electrical grid, and represents a major achievement for Hawaii, the United States, and marine renewable energy.” According to the company:

“Makai’s OTEC power plant uses the temperature difference between the ocean’s cold deep water and warm surface water to generate clean, renewable electricity that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The NELHA-sited plant will generate 100 kilowatts of sustainable, continuous electricity—enough to power 120 Hawaii homes annually.”

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard delivered remarks at the event.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi was also on hand.

“The research and development at the plant was funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) through the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), and the infrastructure was funded by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). Accrued electricity revenues from this power plant will sustain further research and development of OTEC technology. A potential next phase for OTEC development at NELHA is being considered by an international consortium under the recently signed Okinawa-Hawaii clean energy agreement.”

The first scheduled speaker was Adam Wong of Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. According to a company news release, Makai “is an innovative ocean technology firm based in Hawaii since 1973. Makai’s expertise includes submarine cables, marine pipelines, Seawater Air Conditioning (SWAC), Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), autonomous underwater vehicles, marine corrosion, and general marine engineering and R&D. Makai is ISO9001:2008 certified, and applies strict quality control methods to all of our engineering projects. Visit www.makai.com for more.”