The OSW desalination program should continue 
to encompass basic research on the newer mem- 
brane processes for use with brackish and waste 
waters. 
OSW’s prime mission should continue to be 
advancing desalting technology, not supplying 
water. The final step in developing new or im- 
proved processes should be based on two major 
approaches, both in cooperation with private 
industry: 
—OSW sponsorship in constructing and operating 
prototype or demonstration plants. 
—OSW participation with water supply agencies in 
constructing and operating such plants. 
Thus State, municipal, and private water supply 
agencies would have an opportunity to utilize new 
desalting technology in a first-of-a-kind plant 
wherein the risk is shared through Government 
financial support. 
To permit reduced water costs, the OSW 
program should direct engineering efforts on heat 
transfer rates, steam temperatures, feed water 
chemistry, scaling, and corrosion. Emphasis also 
should be given such other factors as the cost of 
money, amount of water needed for the specific 
area, geographical need for large blocks of power 
in the case of a dual-purpose plant, and availability 
of properly sized storage and distribution systems. 
Vil. POWER GENERATION 
Major power generating concepts to exploit the 
ocean’s potentials fall in two categories: (1) those 
which employ the advantages of the sea environ- 
ment and (2) those which derive power from the 
various forms of abundant energy found in the sea. 
The first category includes power plants (conven- 
tional and nuclear) installed on the ocean floor, on 
artificial islands, or possibly on large stable surface 
or subsurface*? platforms moored off the coast. 
This category also would include power plants 
built on shore with their cooling water intakes and 
59 Where the water is deeper than 200 feet, a neutrally 
buoyant subsurface platform moored at a 150 to 200 foot 
depth would be advantageous, being easily accessible, 
clear of surface traffic, and beyond the effects of waves 
and winds. 
discharges located seaward to minimize thermal 
effects. The second category encompasses genera- 
tion of electric power from the energy of ocean 
tides, waves, currents, thermal gradients, and 
geothermal sources. 
Energy devices of lesser magnitude carried into 
the undersea environment to supply power for 
submersibles, habitats, etc., are discussed in Chap- 
ter 5, Subsection IB, Power Sources. 
A. Power Generation in the Ocean Environment 
1. Current Situation 
a. Nuclear Power Station Concept The concept 
of huge nuclear electric generating stations built 
on the ocean floor or on artifical islands provides a 
possible alternative to the use of increasingly rare 
land sites. In addition, it represents the possibility 
of the system’s effects being utilized to ecological 
advantage rather than creating a thermal pollution 
problem in rivers and estuaries. 
The role of nuclear power systems in the sea’s 
exploration and exploitation is as certain as man’s 
ability to develop the technology, equipment, 
plans, and support operations to delve into the 
environment—and his determination to do so. In 
fact, nuclear energy already is playing a role of 
growing importance in oceanic activities in the 
form of electric power from nuclear land sources 
supplied to various locations by undersea transmis- 
sion cables and of propulsion systems for sub- 
marines and surface ships. 
Although conversion of nuclear energy to elec- 
tricity is relatively new, the growth and acceptance 
of nuclear electric power over the past few years is 
spectacular. While total world electric power con- 
sumption is increasing steadily, installation of nu- 
clear sources is growing much faster. In 1960, for 
example, about one-tenth of one per cent of total 
electric power was derived from nuclear sources. 
In 1967, nuclear capacity was one per cent of total 
electric power. But the real period of explosive 
growth, based on projections of current orders, 
will occur between now and 1980. Nuclear capa- 
city will grow to an estimated 12.5 per cent by 
1974 and about 30 per cent by 1980. Most recent 
estimates are 50 to 100 per cent higher than 
forecast three to four years ago. The effect of this 
demand for nuclear plant construction is a six to 
eight year backlog of orders. 
VI-213 
