Table 20. Estimated Costs of Shore-Based Power Sources 



(Values are in thousands of dollars.) 



Power Level 

 (kw) 



Cable Length (miles) 



10 



50 



100 



500 



30 



1,160 



2,362 



3,857 



18,238 



100 



1,300 



2,464 



4,436 



18,339 



300 



1,515 



2,798 



4,535 



26,368 



1,000 



1,700 



2,990 



5,421 



44,837 



3,000 



2,140 



4,232 



1 1 ,339 



— 



CONCLUSIONS 



1. The most serious problem associated with the development of underwater 

 power systems for power levels of 30 to 3,000 kw at depths of 600 to 

 20,000 feet is the limitation of watertight cable connectors. 



2. In-situ power plants can supply 30 to 300 kw of usable AC power at 

 depths of 600 to 20,000 feet and 1 ,000 to 3,000 kw at depths of 600 to 

 2,000 feet within the current state of the art. 



3. Surface power plants can supply 30 to 3,000 kw of usable AC power to 

 depths of 600 to 20,000 feet within the current state of the art and, except 

 for underwater connectors, without technical limitations. 



4. Shore-based power plants can supply 30 to 1 ,000 kw of usable AC or DC 

 power to depths of 600 to 20,000 feet and 3,000 kw at depths of 600 to 

 10,000 feet within the current state of the art and, except for underwater 

 connectors, without technical limitations. 



5. In-situ power plants are not economically competitive with either shore- 

 based or surface-tendered power plants except for restrictive undersea missions. 



6. Surf ace- tendered power systems are most cost effective for all selected 

 power levels and ocean depths more than 50 miles from shore. 



7. Shore-based power systems are most cost effective for all selected power 

 levels and cable lengths of 1 to 50 miles. 



86 



