One of the potential side benefits of OTEC power plants, which is often talked about, is the possibility of growing algae in the nutrient rich water which is brought up as cooling water for the OTEC process. Shell together with HR Biopetroleum will be growing un-modified algae at NELHA Hawaii, to produce biofuel. This is a research project with some interesting potential. According to the press release the algae can “produce at least 15 times more oil per hectare than alternatives such as rape, palm soya or jatropha”.