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This seems like an old Idea, repackaged with a bit of new technology, i.e. solar panels. Here is a paper from 1984, suggesting methanol production from Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).

https://www.jhuapl.edu/techdigest/views/pdfs/V05_N2_1984/V5_...

What is OTEC? http://www.otecnews.org/what-is-otec/

Disclaimer: I started OTEC News once upon a time.

Last I read Japan still has green plans involving hydrogen. They could just save a step, thereby also conserving energy. In fact, that's an old proposition as an alternative to fossil fuels. Too bad nuclear has enormous public image and political cost problems.

Unless we have costs breakthroughs in nuclear, solar is going to stay cheaper.

I doubt solar is actually cheaper for this process right now.