 The laboratory has become a leading test facility for OTEC technology.In the same year, Lockheed received a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to study OTEC.This eventually led to an effort by Lockheed, the US Navy, Makai Ocean Engineering, Dillingham Construction, and other firms to build the world's first and only net-power producing OTEC plant, dubbed "Mini-OTEC" For three months in 1979, a small amount of electricity was generated.