🏝 140-year-old tech to supply unlimited clean energy to islands

Plus: Folding drone completes deck landings for US Navy, Humane launches voice-based personal AI alternative to phones, and massive tidal kite generators pass key tests. A 19th-century invention could soon bring unlimited clean energy to islands worldwide. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) uses the natural temperature difference between shallow and deep waters to generate non-stop renewable power. But this tantalizing technology has remained elusive due to massive infrastructure costs. Now, a UK startup’s floating barge design finally unlocks OTEC's potential for small islands reliant on dirty diesel grids. Global OTEC plans to deploy the first commercial-scale floating OTEC plant by 2025. To learn more about how a 140-year-old idea is poised for a revival that could deliver affordable, sustainable electricity to energy-starved islands, jump to today’s [Must Read](. The future of renewable energy could lie in the deep blue sea. Also today, product development and release face overlapping challenges due to the pressure to deliver high-quality products as rapidly as possible. [SAFe® for DevOps Practitioners]( you use a DevOps approach to resolving these challenges using examples and use cases. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s dive in! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( How do helicopters land if the engine fails? Helicopters employ autorotation, a clever technique that harnesses rotor blades and air resistance, allowing them to descend gracefully when their engine fails, rather than crashing like a brick. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. 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Must Read [🏝 140-year-old tech to bring unlimited clean energy to island nations]( UK startup Global OTEC is reviving a 140-year-old renewable energy concept called ocean thermal energy conversion. OTEC harnesses the temperature difference between surface and deep sea waters to generate steam and electricity consistently around the clock. Expensive infrastructure has limited OTEC's adoption, but Global OTEC's new barge design aims to make the technology affordable. The company unveiled plans for its Dominique platform, which can generate 1.5 megawatts of clean baseload power. Dominique only requires a single cold water pipe, greatly reducing OTEC plant costs. Global OTEC plans to install the first system in São Tomé and Príncipe by late 2025. OTEC's potential to provide low-cost, sustainable energy offers a lifeline for island nations reliant on diesel. Dominique is designed as a modular, cost-effective OTEC solution ideal for small islands and coastal regions. By tapping the thermal energy in readily available seawater, the 19th-century concept could deliver large-scale decarbonization in oceanic territories. Paired with modern engineering, OTEC can finally fulfill its promise as a 24/7 renewable power source. Click below to see how it will work. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🤖 Ex-Apple employees want to replace phones with Humane AI pin]( Humane AI, founded by former longtime Apple execs, launched its first product - AiPin, a pocket-sized voice assistant. AiPin features touch controls, a laser display, and built-in camera and mic. It provides AI services like weather without a screen or apps. While limited compared to phones, AiPin offers an alternative for reducing device distraction. Its high price ($699) and dependence on vocal interactions could limit mass appeal. Learn more about the futuristic gadget aiming to replace smartphones. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [⛴ US Navy successfully trials 13-foot giant electric transforming drone]( PteroDynamics' 13-foot folding wing eVTOL drone, Transwing X-P4, passed a vital sea trial by landing on a moving Navy ship. The innovative dihedral wing design enables vertical takeoff plus efficient forward flight. Completing deck landings autonomously proves its potential for maritime cargo delivery. The startup now plans larger drones with longer range and heavier payload capabilities. The successful trials position PteroDynamics to provide drones for Navy operations. Discover more about the ship-landing eVTOL. [[Read More]( [Energy]( [🌊 Massive Swedish tidal kite Dragon 12 tests ready for operation]( Swedish company Minesto completed onshore testing for its Dragon 12 tidal energy kite system. The 13-foot wingspan kite harnesses underwater currents, generating over 1 megawatt. After passing initial tests, Dragon 12 will deploy to the Faroe Islands for installation offshore. Minesto aims to build large tidal arrays that could provide clean, predictable power from the ocean. Its unique kite approach offers potential for affordable, scalable tidal energy. [[Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Lead Nuclear Surety Software Engineer]( at Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh(US) [Front-End Software Engineer Devops - 1006]( at Reinventing Geospatial, Inc. (RGi) Chantilly(US) [Mechanical Technician]( at Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton(US) [Senior Windows Platform Engineer]( at Hudson River Trading New York(US) [Windows Engineer]( at Epic Madison(US) [Engineering Lead, Atlas Search]( at MongoDB San Francisco(US) [Engineering/ Systems Engineer I-II]( at TRISTAR Crane(US) QUESTION OF THE DAY If you lived on your own isolated tropical island paradise, how would you generate electricity? [Ocean thermal sounds great]( [A small nuclear plant]( [Wind and solar]( [I'd have no need for it]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we reported on the [tiny lasers]( that will help realize a range of miniaturized photonic technologies, and we asked you what the most exciting outcome is likely to be. Here are your answers. 57% New sensors and health diagnostics 28% Revolutionizing photonics and optics 14% Miniaturized photonic devices 1% Portable atomic clocks “History is an important teacher, and we are committed to learning from it.“ Dan Grech, CEO and founder of Global OTEC THINGS WE LOVE [Meta Quest 2]( [$299]( [MSI Gaming Laptop]( [$894.36]( [Amazon Fire HD Tablet]( [$169.98]( [Redthunder Wireless Keyboard]( [$53.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [EHang defends Hindenburg hit, world’s first EV flying taxi shares plunge]( - [NASA to map 450 million galaxies with new SPHEREx telescope]( - [Behold! 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