Water enters the system at just a few degrees Celcius, providing chilled water at a typical temperature for 44 degrees F. After the air chilling, the temperature of the return water is typically on the order of 54 degrees F. The seawater return temperature is on the order of 54 degrees F, providing plenty of surplus capacity to seasonally cool nearby coral reefs. This cooling has been demonstrated to reverse coral bleaching in some locations, potentially protecting square kilometers of reef from seasonal bleaching due to excess heat in the local summer. This combination of renewable energy practice and coral reef conservation provides strong benefits to the economy and local ecosystems. The Climate Foundation is dedicated to developing these kinds of synergies in combined commercial practice and conservation efforts. |