The layout was presented during the solution session “Driving the blue and green economy aspirations of São Tomé and Príncipe through OTEC”. These advancements represent the recent advancements made for the structure after securing Approval in Principle (AIP) from Lloyds Register, last June.
The next step for Dominique’s implementation is a geotechnical (seabed) survey and the final detailed design of the project-specific system. This will allow for construction, followed by installation of the system. The company expects to start the commissioning of Dominique by the end of 2025.
“We know Dominique is a life-changer for small islands and coastal nations, and that’s why we see the pace of the project on track for success. This is an important lesson we want to share with investors as the public-private partnership allowed the smooth undertaking of critical techno-economic, environmental and social studies to progress to this point,” said Global OTEC’s Founder and CEO Dan Grech.
Representing the country that will have the first commercial-scale OTEC platform installed, the National Energy Director of the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment of São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabriel Maquengo, emphasized the relevance of the project.
“OTEC is a new opportunity for São Tomé and Príncipe to explore renewable energy, meeting the national ambitions and goals of the National Determined Contributions," Maquengo said.
The solution session at the IVECF also had presentations from the Secretary General of the Ocean Thermal Energy Association, Benjamin Martin, Global OTEC investor and advisor Peter McCall, Development Environment Director at Aqualogos, João Almeida, and the Chief of Staff and Project Director at SIDS DOCK, Christine Neves Duncan.
“The real success for us at this stage of the project, moving from idea to development and execution, is the importance of partnership. And the SIDS have found the recipe for that. We have found that donors and supporters are more welcoming and interested in developing partnerships between SIDs and the private sector," concluded Neves Duncan.
