In 2007, Florida and the UK signed a partnership agreement on global climate change, tying one to the other physically by the Gulf Stream – a powerful ocean current of significance to the present climate of each partner.
Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) agreement with the University of Edinburgh was previously set to further develop collaboration on ocean energy and research and technology. And recently FAU President Frank T. Brogan has also signed memorandums of understanding with Heriot-Watt University and the New & Renewable Energy Centre to exchange researchers, information and technology on ocean energy and climate change – all of which have cast their investigations into the development of a sustainable ocean energy industry.
FAU officials have recently accompanied Florida Governor Charlie Crist on a visit to several universities and affiliated organisations in the UK to further discussions, exchange information and formalise strategic agreements in areas of clean ocean energy and climate change. These representatives from the FAU’s Centre for Ocean Energy Technology (COET) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science have made the trip as part of an international, state-wide business development operation that includes nearly 100 university and corporate leaders.
The COET is focused on the ocean as a resolute and sustainable energy resource. It has lead research in two substantial forms of renewable energy: thermal power associated with heat from the sun that is absorbed by the ocean; and harvestable, mechanical energy associated with ocean currents. The research at the COET encompasses a broad range of areas that are essential to enable the development of a sustainable ocean energy industry.
“Currently, ocean energy is undeveloped compared to other conventional and renewable energy technologies,” said Dr. Frederick Driscoll, technical director of the COET. “While many single technology-centric efforts are underway around the world, there is no unifying infrastructure in the U.S. or abroad to support multi-faceted ocean energy research and development. Our centre is helping to bridge that gap.”
The COET is primarily focused on characterising, supporting and evaluating the available resources offshore in Florida, which has emerged in the shape of a real-time instrumented ocean observatory.
Recently the COET has seen their lease application for an area offshore of Fort Lauderdale short-listed by the U.S. Minerals Management Service. In concurrence with the offshore range, the COET will develop and deploy a variety of platforms that will allow technologies to be tested in situ for most of the development phases necessary to build up commercial attention, and eventually, implementation.
The COET is also working together with FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute to develop an integrated system approach towards environmental, ecological, resource and power system assessment, and risk avoidance to ensure that all elements related to harnessing open-ocean access energy research and development are addressed and understood.
These movements in a somewhat unexplored niche of renewable and sustainable energy help provide a broader rendering of how the globe is tackling contemporary climate and fuels issues. And it is clear that the work consolidated by the CEO and its respective affiliates marks further development of international synchronicity between countries committed to exchanging expertise on research technology, encouraging public awareness and increasing climate-friendly economic opportunities.
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This post was written by Ryan Whatley on August 15, 2008