Annual Report- Part III - Florida Energy Systems Consortium

these obstacles by creating a terrestrial carbon information system (called “TerraC”) for the carbon sciencecommunity, focused on ecosystems in Florida. The information system will be administered through theUF Carbon Resources Science Center (http://carboncenter.ifas.ufl.edu ), a multi-disciplinary Centerdedicated to research in support of enhanced agricultural and natural resource carbon management.Budget: $199,440Title: Creation of Carbon Sequestration Data, Technologies and Professional Cohorts for FloridaPI: Mark Stewart, Co-PIs: Jeffrey Cunningham, Maya Trotz - USFDescription: Rising concerns over increasing levels of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, haveled to suggestions to capture carbon dioxide at fixed sources, such as fossil fuel power plants, and sequesterthe carbon for millennia by injecting it underground. Florida overlies many thousands of feet of carbonaterocks which may be suitable for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. This project will investigate thepotential for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide in Florida, the physical and chemical changes thatmay occur as a result of injection, assess the potential for escape of injected carbon dioxide, determine therisk, if any, to aquifer systems used for water supplies, develop methodologies for Florida utilities topredict the performance and risks of proposed sequestration projects, and educate a cohort of geologicsequestration professionals to create a carbon sequestration industry in Florida.Budget: $479,640External Collaborators: Tampa Electric Company (TECO); Florida Power and Light (FPL);Environmental Consulting and Technology (ECT), Inc.; Los Alamos National Laboratory.THRUST 6: Exploiting Florida’s Ocean Energy ResourcesTitle: Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy CenterPI: Susan H. Skemp, Co-PIs: Howard P. Hanson, James VanZwieten - FAUDescription: The research and development program being conducted by the Southeast National MarineRenewable Energy Center (SNMREC) is structured to be the catalyst that will enable the ocean energyindustry in Florida toward determining solutions to answer the state’s energy challenge. This projectfocuses on determining the potential of harnessing the ocean current resource and ocean thermal energyconversion (OTEC). The regulatory process both at State and Federal levels continues to evolve as theroles and interdependencies of the individual agencies are more clearly articulated. In addition, knowledgeto make these decisions is being defined and targeted on a micro level necessary to assess individualdevices. SNMREC's mission is to bridge the gap between concept and commercial deployment of oceanenergy technologies by providing at-sea testing facilities for both ocean current and thermal energyresearch and for technology development. Research cuts across environmental, ecological, resource andtechnology.Budget: $8,750,000Universities: UCF, FSU, ERAU, University of Miami, Oregon State University, University of Washington,Pennsylvania State University, University of New Hampshire, University of Hawaii, University ofEdinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, Nova Southeastern University, Virginia Polytechnical Institute, FloridaInstitute of Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityExternal Collaborators: Numerous industry and State and federal government as well as FFRDCs, suchas National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, U.S. Department ofEnergy, U.S. Department of Interior (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Regulation andEnforcement), U.S. Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), andFlorida Department of Environmental, Protection, to name a few.Title: Buoy Array for Ocean Wave Power GenerationPI: Z. Qu, Co-PI: K. Lin - UCF79