The demand for an efficient renewable energy source is a driving force in ongoing research. Thermal energy conversion is one such potential source that is under constant investigation and has endless possibilities. The two requirements of energy production are efficiency and renewability. There are many possibilities for energy production, including: fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, coal, oil shale), nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and waste, and hydroelectric. The efficiency of the use of these resources is directly related to the location and demand in that location. For example, Hawaii is a prime candidate for utilizing the mechanical action of ocean waves, the ocean's thermal gradient, wind, and biomass resulting from high levels of plant growth. The demand for another energy source stems from Hawaii's dependence on oil that must be transported there. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is the utilization of energy stored in the world's oceans from the thermal gradient created. The thermal gradient is the difference between the surface temperature of the ocean heated by solar energy and that of the water at depth at significantly colder temperatures. This thermal gradient is the energy source that is converted into usable energy by OTEC plants. The idea of ​​using the thermal energy of the oceans is attributed to several visionaries including Jacques D'Arsonval, a French engineer, in 1881. The temperature difference needed for an OTEC plant is approximately 36 degrees F (20 degrees C) . Temperature differences of this amount are easily found in many locations around the world. The areas depicted in red on the map above produce the best areas for OTEC sites due to the stability of the warm climate during t...... middle of paper ...... be partially exploited for one of the municipalities located next to the pipeline?Arctic North Slope Borough - 179.2 mi.Fairbanks North Star Borough - 89.1 mi.City of Delta Junction - 5.5 mi.City of Valdez - 20.8 mi.The pipeline could at least help to power one of the ten pumping stations located along its tortuous route? Heat exchange in either of the two systems mentioned above is not likely to produce enough energy to produce electricity. The oil temperature during extraction is approximately 160°F and the flow temperature approximately 140°F. These temperatures must be maintained for the oil to remain in a viscous enough state to be transported with some efficiency. However, this investigation into the potential use of excess heat produced as a byproduct opens the door to other possibilities.