Marine-Source Integrated Heat Pump System for Remote Coastal and Island Communities

The white paper "Marine-Source Integrated Heat Pump (MS-IHP) System for Remote Coastal and Island Communities" focuses on the Water for Energy research area.

Roughly 3.8 million U.S. coastal homes still rely on fossil fuel heating, and 1.3 million use inefficient electric resistance systems. These regions experience high energy costs and infrastructure vulnerability due to geographic isolation and exposure to extreme weather, sea-level rise, and natural disasters. Ensuring reliable, affordable, and efficient energy-water systems is critical for their long-term economic and grid stability.

The MS-IHP technology utilizes the ocean's thermal energy to provide space heating and cooling, water heating, dehumidification, and freshwater harvesting through a single integrated system. The MS-IHP is projected to improve the efficiency of space heating by 79%, cooling by 48%, and water heating by 81%, leading to over 60% total household energy reduction compared with conventional systems. Beyond efficiency gains, it enhances thermal comfort, eliminates frosting issues, and increases grid reliability. The system represents a transformative step toward resilient, low-cost, and sustainable energy-water solutions for vulnerable coastal and island communities.

Collaborations among ORNL, major HVAC manufacturers (Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, etc.), the University of South Florida, and Florida coastal communities (e.g., Clearwater, St. Pete Beach) will accelerate prototype testing and field demonstration.