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Imagine a system that increases the availability of safe clean drinking water without
drilling wells, building dams, or desalinating seawater; a system that expands food
production without using our limited drinking water, increasing the need for artificial
fertilizer, or even using land; a system that provides energy as electricity, heat, and
liquid fuels without burning fossil coal, oil, or gas; and it does all this, while
mitigating greenhouse gas and preparing future generations for sea-level rise.
OGI calls this system OMEGA which stands for Operational Marinas for
Economic Growth and Abundance. Heres how it works
OGI combines proven, versatile, scalable, safe, affordable, and low environmental
impact technologies for water purification, multi-trophic aquaculture, and solar
energy capture. The key innovations are: 1) the adaptation and integration of these
existing technologies to improve their overall efficiency and 2) building OGI systems
on near shore platforms floating in naturally or artificially protected bays. Here are
the systems components:
The four phases and eight steps of OMEGA development with go/no-go decision points at
the end of each step to insure success and limit risk.
Phase 1: Evaluation
o Step 1: Discovery: With contacts in a prospective OMEGA coastal region, OGI opens a
portfolio on prospective sites that includes coastal maps, city demographics, information
about currents, waves, water temperature, weather, and solar irradiance, as well as
wastewater treatment plants, potential carbon sources, history of aquaculture, and potential
partners and stakeholders (industry, universities, governmental, environmental
organizations). OGI uses published information and contacts key stakeholders to determine
the benefits and challenges. Physical data and interviews with local experts will discover
fatal flaws to inform the decision to continue to the next phase.
Duration: 1 month
Estimated costs: OGI internal funds based on donations
Expected outcome: Disqualify sites with fatal flaws or proceed to Step 2.
o Step 2: Site evaluation: A site-specific team focuses on the physical and social feasibility
for a potential site. This phase includes site visits by the OGI team with meetings and
seminars at local universities, potentially participating companies, and relevant government
agencies. A report is prepared that is used in the next phase.
Duration: 1-3 months
Estimated costs: TBD for travel, consulting fees, report production, and website support.
Expected outcome: Site physical, logistical, and social qualifications determined to
determine feasibility of continuing to next step.
Phase 2: Socialization
o Step 3: Simulations and modeling. A virtual OMEGA system is created at the proposed
site using 3D animation or in some cases virtual reality. This representation will allow
stakeholders to see the aesthetics and impact of some designs of the OMEGA system. An
econometric model with adjustable variable will be developed for the elucidate the
cost/benefits and allow stakeholders to explore the systems sensitivity to changes in key
parameters and to understand its potential social impacts on the local economy through
revenue pathways, environmental remediation, and job creation.
Duration: 1-3 months
Estimated costs: TBD for subcontractors: Engineering drawing, Architectural renderings, 3D
animations and Econometric modeling.
Expected outcome: Engineering constraints, architectural evaluation, and modeling
determine both the feasibility and aesthetics going into the next step.
o Step 4: OMEGA Workshop: A 2-day event planned and moderated by OGI in collaboration
with local partners to introduce local stakeholders to the OMEGA system and its potential
impact and to invite criticism and participation. OGI speakers will present OMEGA concepts,
simulations, and models, while local speakers will discuss benefits, costs, and challenges.
Breakout sessions will focus on technical, environmental, economic, and social
issues. Events will be videotaped for broadcasting and/or transcription.
Duration: 3-6 months
Estimated costs: TBD for venue, catering, videographers, and web support.
Expected outcome: Information exchange during workshop determines social support or
challenges and if it is appropriate to proceed.
Phase 3: Implementation
o Step 5: OMEGA Team: Based on information from all of the previous phases a local or
international OMEGA implementation team is assembled. This will include experts and
engineers in wastewater treatment, algae cultivation, solar installations, aquaculture,
environmental monitoring, marketing, economics, and appropriate government officials.
OGIs role will depend on needs, but it could range from technical consultation and project
fund-raising to complete project management.
Duration: 1-3 months
Estimated costs time-dependent: TBD for travel, consulting fees, and publications.
Expected outcome: Team structure and funding will determine the time-frame for progress
to the next step.
o Step 6: Demonstration project: The local OMEGA team in collaboration with OGI will
install a fully integrated system of up to 0.4 hectares that will include wastewater to potable
reuse, carbon capture, solar power, algae cultivation, aquaculture, processing facilities, and
monitoring. The design of infrastructure and instrumentation will depend on the site.
Duration: 4-6 months
Estimated capital costs: TBD depending on infrastructure requirements, logistics, and local
pricing.
Estimated OGI costs: TBD depending on roles, ranging from consultation to full project
management.
o Step 8: Commercialization scale up: Based on data from operations, social responses,
and econometric modeling the system will be scaled up to provide a positive return on
investment.
Duration: 3-12 months with possible renewals for OGI
Estimated costs and OGI involvement: TBD.
Expected outcome: