Abstract
This paper explores the techno-economic and policy potential of ocean current energy as a driver of hydrogen production and grid resiliency in Florida. Given the state’s exposure to increasingly severe hurricanes and its reliance on imported hydrogen, there is a growing need to establish localized, resilient, and baseload-capable renewable energy systems. Ocean current resources, particularly in the Florida Straits, offer a promising yet underutilized solution. To align with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) cost targets for ocean current technologies, we evaluate the capital and operational cost thresholds necessary to achieve future benchmarks for the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and hydrogen (LCOH). We simulate a range of hydrogen production system configurations, integrating ocean current turbines, solar PV, and grid interaction, and conduct sensitivity analyses on the capital and O&M costs of ocean current devices. Results highlight that optimized hybrid systems leveraging local renewables and strategic grid integration can significantly enhance hydrogen affordability, resilience, and energy independence. The findings position ocean current energy not only as a viable pathway toward achieving DOE cost goals but also as a catalyst for advancing Florida’s hydrogen energy dominance and coastal energy security.
The associated presentation can be found here.