The Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board is establishing six "Centers of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology" across the state, each funded with $5M USD.

The Centers of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology will address Florida's energy crisis by looking at South Florida's ocean currents, specifically the Gulf Stream - the world's most energy dense ocean current, according to officials - as an abundant renewable energy source.

As one of the fastest growing American states, Florida's electricity consumption is estimated to increase by nearly 30 percent over the next 10 years. In-state energy production is less than one percent of consumption, leaving the state heavily reliant on imported sources of energy. Ocean generated electricity would have a significant economic impact for Florida.

"The major objective of funding these centers of excellence is to stimulate Florida's economy and have a significant impact on creating a highly skilled workforce," said Frank T. Brogan, president of Florida Atlantic University (FAU), one of the universities chosen.

The universities will work variously with the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Florida Power & Light, Ocean Renewable Power, Lockheed Martin, Clipper Windpower, Oceaneering, Aquantis, the University of Central Florida, Nova Southeastern University and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.

"Our Florida Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology will ... foster the research, design, development, implementation, testing and commercialization of cutting-edge ocean energies that are cost-competitive with existing power technologies such as fossil-fuel-based power generation," said Dr. Rick Driscoll, associate professor in FAU's department of ocean engineering and co-principal technical personnel for the project.

FAU's Florida Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology will be housed at FAU's SeaTech Institute for Oceans & Systems Engineering in Dania Beach, Florida. The Institute is part of FAU's Department of Ocean Engineering, located within the College of Engineering & Computer Science.

The six universities selected to receive a center of excellence include: University of South Florida; Florida Atlantic University; University of Florida (two centers); University of Central Florida; and Florida State University.