> A heat engine gives greater efficiency when run with a large temperature difference. In the oceans the temperature difference between surface and deep water is greatest in the tropics, although still a modest 20 to 25 °C. It is therefore in the tropics that OTEC offers the greatest possibilities.[4] OTEC has the potential to offer global amounts of energy that are 10 to 100 times greater than other ocean energy options such as wave power. [44][45]
> OTEC plants can operate continuously providing a base load supply for an electrical power generation system. [4]
> The main technical challenge of OTEC is to generate significant amounts of power efficiently from small temperature differences. It is still considered an emerging technology. Early OTEC systems were 1 to 3 percent thermally efficient, well below the theoretical maximum 6 and 7 percent for this temperature difference.[46] Modern designs allow performance approaching the theoretical maximum Carnot efficiency.
Thermoelectric power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_power