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| Click on the image above to view a video about the center. Animation by FAU Center for Electronic Communications. |
FAU has been selected by the Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board to receive $5 million to establish the Florida Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology. The new center, which will be housed at SeaTech in Dania Beach, will be the University’s second Center of Excellence—its first, the Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, was established in 2003.
The Center 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 most energy-dense ocean current), as an abundant, renewable energy source to meet not just Florida’s power needs but the world’s power needs. Ocean-generated electricity would have a significant economic impact for Florida, creating a new industry and more than 26,500 new Florida-based jobs and changing the state from an energy importer to a leader in energy exports.
“This funding will lead to the establishment of a world-class center that will revolutionize future energy production on our planet,” said Vice President for Research Larry Lemanski, who also is principal offeror of the new center of excellence.
FAU will work 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 in establishing the center.
Ocean Engineering Professor Rick Driscoll will co-lead the project with Ocean Engineering Department Chair Manhar Dhanak.
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