The present invention discloses a subsea power system for use in capturing
"free" or "waste" energy (e.g., thermal, geothermal, pressurized
subsurface gases or liquids, wind, wave, solar, or other free, waste, or
low cost energy sources) to convert and/or store to power a subsea
service or device during times when the free or waste energy supply is
not as abundant, is not available, or demands require greater output than
is provided at steady state. The subsea power system may include: (1) one
or more energy-capturing devices--such as a turbine and/or thermoelectric
generator--for harvesting free or waste energy, (2) a fuel cell,
electrolyzer, and oxygen and hydrogen storage vessels for harvesting
energy from the surrounding seawater, and (3) a power converter for
receiving energy from the various sources and converting the energy into
a useful form consumable by subsea devices.