Evaluating Renewable Energy from the Sea: A Study of OTEC Feasibility in the Banda Sea, Indonesia

The growing global demand for electricity, which is driven by rapid technological and infrastructure developments, has intensified the need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Indonesia holds significant potential for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) with its abundant marine resources, particularly in Banda Sea. Therefore, this research aimed to explore the seasonal and spatial distribution of OTEC potential using temperature data from Marine Copernicus model, validated with Argo Float measurements. The validation produced a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 2.814% and an R² value of 0.9945, indicating high model accuracy. Moreover, seasonal variations showed that Carnot efficiency values between 7.60–7.70% were achievable at depths of 643–1,245 meters, depending on sea surface temperature (SST) fluctuations. Station 2, which was located 9 km from the coast, indicated the most consistent and optimal conditions for year-round OTEC operation with net power output ranging 63.85–75.79 MW. This research showed the viability of OTEC in Banda Sea and indicated the importance of continuous monitoring and accurate modeling to support renewable energy transition in Indonesia.