The ocean is a source of two significant sustainable forms of energy: thermal energy associated with the
sun's heat absorbed by the ocean, and mechanical energy associated with the waves, currents and tides.
Since the oceans cover more than 71% of the earth's surface, these forms of energy represent the largest
solar collectors and retainers of the sun's vast energy that reach the earth's surface. By harnessing a
fraction of one percent of ocean thermal energy, the world's energy needs can be met. Many of the steady
ocean currents are highly energetic and provide tremendous potential for electric power generation - some
are five times as energy-dense as the world's best wind power-generating sites.
Florida's cleanest and most abundant source of renewable energy is its oceans. The Gulf Stream Current
flows northward past the southern and eastern shores of Florida, funneling through the Florida Straits
with a mass transport greater than 30 times the total freshwater river flows of the world - over eight
billion gallons per minute. The warm, surface water of the Gulf Stream overlays much colder deep water
that flows through the depths of the ocean and into the Florida Straits from the Arctic regions, yielding
an energy-rich and stable source of ocean thermal power. The cold, deep ocean water also has enormous
potential for cold water air-conditioning (up to 45% of Florida's residential electricity consumption
is used for air conditioning) and environmental mitigation. These energy sources can supply all of
Florida's energy needs.
Currently, ocean energy is undeveloped compared to other conventional and renewable energy technologies.
In addition, commercial ocean energy harvesting systems do not exist today. Although many single
technology-centric efforts are underway around the world, there is no unifying infrastructure in
the United States or abroad to support wider, multi-resource and multi-technology development.
FAU's Center for Ocean Energy Technology fills that gap.