Introduction:

The natural temperature variations within a large, salty pond and the ocean can be turned into a practical form of energy. This Fact Sheet focuses on mankind’s attempts to generate electricity from solar ponds and the ocean’s energy.

Thermal energy is also known as heat. This form of heat is generated from the vibration of molecules contained within a substance. Thermal gradient energy is the production of electricity from a solar pond and its cool, fresh, top layers and hot, salty, lower layers. The gradient is the “degree of inclination”, or the difference, between the layers of this solar pond. Solar ponds are discussed in the next section.

Ocean gradient energy is the generation of electricity from the sea’s warm and cold layers.

In Australia, most of the research work on these forms of thermal energy has been conducted in regional areas. Living in the outback has many advantages. But there are several disadvantages, particularly the high cost of living due to the remote location. Petrol, distillate and transport can be much more expensive in regional areas than the metropolitan city.

Research workers in Australia are investigating less costly ways to generate electricity in regional areas and they are discovering reasonable alternatives to expensive diesel fuel. We can use thermal energy to heat our homes in winter. During our hot summers, we remove thermal energy (heat) from our buildings with air conditioners. 

Australian scientists and engineers are looking to natural, renewable forms of energy to generate electricity. However, the practical development of thermal and ocean gradient energy is still relatively costly.

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