[Brief translation]
Dr. Haruo Uehara, who used to be involved in the design of nuclear power plants about 30 years ago, has been working as an intermediary between the sea and human beings. He has been studying Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), which generates electricity without CO2 emissions by utilizing temperature differences between warm surface and cold deep seawater, for practical uses. The history of OTEC goes back to the year 1881, when a French physicist, J. D'Arsonval, announced his theory for the first time. D'Ardonval already anticipated that using fossil fuel causes an increase in global warming. In order to realize the commercialization of ocean energy, numerous experiments have been conducted. After a process of trials and errors, Dr. Uerara finally invented an OTEC system with high efficient cycle named "Uehara Cycle." OTEC, which was born in France, recently took a step toward practical use in Japan. The OTEC system not only generates electricity but also solves such problems as water and food shortage by utilizing electricity and water produced by Ocean Thermal Energy. Multiple uses of the system and a major project that tackles such worldwide environmental issues as global warming and water and food shortage are receiving close attention from all over the world, and presidents from various islands have visited Dr. Uehara's office.