Environmental siting suitability analysis for commercial scale ocean renewable energy: a southeast Florida case study

This thesis aims to facilitate the siting and implementation of Florida Atlantic
University Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (FAU SNMREC)
ocean current energy (OCE) projects offshore southeastern Florida through the analysis
of benthic anchoring conditions. Specifically, a suitability analysis considering all
presently available biologic and geologic datasets within the legal framework of OCE
policy and regulation was done. OCE related literature sources were consulted to assign suitability levels to each dataset, ArcGIS interpolations generated seafloor substrate maps, and existing submarine cable pathways were considered for OCE power cables. The finalized suitability map highlights the eastern study area as most suitable for OCE siting due to its abundance of sand/sediment substrate, existing underwater cable route access, and minimal biologic presence. Higher resolution datasets are necessary to locate specific OCE development locales, better understand their benthic conditions, and minimize potentially negative OCE environmental impacts.