Leland, Anna E.

An assessment of the thermal resource in the Straits of Florida was performed to estimate the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) potential. Direct measurements of the temperature profile across the Florida Straits were taken from nearshore Southeast Florida to the Exclusive Economic Zone boundary along four evenly spaced transects perpendicular to Florida's Southeast coast, spanning 160 km. Along the southern transects in summer, nearshore cold and warm water resources meet or exceed the average 20ÀC temperature difference required for OTEC. In winter, the nearshore average DT of 17.76ÀC can produce 59-75% design net power and 70-86% in spring with DT averaging 18.25ÀC. Offshore along the southern transects, a high steady DT from 18.5- 24ÀC creates an annual average net power of 120-125MW. Along the northern transects, the nearshore resource does not exist, but a consistent OTEC resource is present offshore, providing 70-80% design net power in winter, and 100-158% in spring and summer.