An energy solution that has yet to become widespread could help provide cooling in multiple areas. Seawater air conditioning has hit places like Canada, Sweden, Holland, and soon to be the US; however, the technology could be deployed elsewhere.
Coastal countries could construct a pipeline from the shore that will pump seawater from depths of at least 1,700 ft to an onshore cooling station. The water would then pass through a heat exchanger that transfers the seawater’s low temperature to a pipeline of freshwater that circulates in a closed loop. The chilled freshwater connects to buildings’ existing air conditioners, providing natural cooling that doesn’t require large conventional generators to cool each building.
The seawater is then returned to the ocean through a diffuser. The ability of this technology is that cold seawater can cool buildings around the clock, similar to solar water heaters (SWHs) that provide hot water even after sunset.
The latest proposal for the technology is in Hawaii which will cost an estimated $200 million in construction while also creating more than 900 jobs.
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