OCEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY:
HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SEA

Susan Skemp

DESCRIPTION:  Florida Atlantic University’s Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC) continues to build capability, infrastructure, expertise, and partnerships needed to develop the methodology and tools to deploy, test, and validate a commercially-viable ocean energy system. Harnessing the power of the Gulf Stream for generating electricity is one of the aims. In this presentation, we will learn how this research is making a unique contribution to a broadly diversified portfolio of renewable energy for the nation’s future. Working to fulfill its mission, the SNMREC has adopted a multi-phase strategy involving resource assessment, testing infrastructure development, performing environmental interactions research, and providing outreach and education for the public. Each of these topics will be discussed during the lecture: Assessing resources and oceanic measurements of the Florida Current and of the thermal resources offshore of southeast Florida and testing infrastructure development—perhaps the single greatest need of the corporate developer community—is associated with the planning, fabrication, and deployment of equipment offshore to be used in at-sea tests. Environmental interactions research includes a wide range of projects to develop understanding of the effects of the marine environment on marine renewable energy equipment and the effects of that equipment, on the marine environment. SNMREC is working with its cognizant agencies to develop appropriate protocols for marine renewable energy permitting.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Susan Skemp is the Executive Director of the SNMREC. She has a broad background in industry, federal policy, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). She had a 31-year career at Pratt & Whitney, where she was instrumental in leading a number of research and technical programs.