Environmental assessment for ocean thermal energy conversion in Hawaii: Available data and a protocol for baseline monitoring

The need to increase renewable energy supply in the United States has prompted ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology to be re-considered for use in Hawaii. As with any new development, a thorough environmental impact assessment is needed before the technology can begin field trials. A previous Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from 1981 is available, but needs to be brought up to current oceanographic and engineering standards. There has been much research done on the oceanography of Hawaii since the original EIS, and this report highlights some of the most important contributions in terms of OTEC development as well as existing gaps in knowledge. A protocol for environmental baseline monitoring is proposed, focusing on a set of ten chemical oceanographic parameters relevant to OTEC and addressing gaps in knowledge of the ecology and oceanography of the area chosen for OTEC development.