Scientists at a group of Florida universities are working to transform the vision from science fiction to reality, with the first steps possible in three to 10 years.

"My kids, being 2 and 4, could certainly see a world powered by renewable energy and, probably, a significant portion powered from the ocean," said Frederick Driscoll, director of the Florida Center for Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology at Florida Atlantic University.

The reality could be right around the corner, Driscoll said.

Getting to that point, though, will involve millions of dollars in private and public money for research and development, regulatory hurdles overcome and numerous technological breakthroughs. But if those obstacles are handled, Driscoll said, ocean energy could begin producing results:

• Within three years, underwater turbine engines could begin harnessing the power of the Gulf Stream and begin producing commercial electricity.

• Within three to five years, deep-ocean cold water could begin to be used for commercial air conditioning.

• Within seven to 10 years, scientists could begin commercially harnessing the energy produced by the differences in ocean temperatures at various depths. They could begin producing hydrogen from the ocean as a fuel source.

Driscoll and colleagues from the Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida and the Center for Advanced Power Systems at Florida State University briefed members of Congress and congressional staffers last week on their combined efforts to harness power from the oceans.

The briefing was sponsored by Rep. Ron Klein, a Democrat from Boca Raton, who said he wanted to demonstrate that there are several alternative energy sources Congress should consider, not just ethanol, which has strong support from corn-belt states.

Klein said he hopes Congress will earmark money for alternative energy research and development projects that would be selected on a competitive basis, rather than putting most of the efforts into ethanol.

Among the bills he is co-sponsoring is one that would earmark $50 million a year for 10 years for marine and hydrokinetic energy research.

Gulf Stream prime source

Meanwhile, the universities are seeking about $12 million in federal grants over the next three years and have approached various agencies including the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In addition, the universities are working with the U.S. Navy, Nova Southeastern University and a group of industrial partners, including Florida Power & Light, Lockheed Martin and the Marine Industries Association, which are helping to finance the research and develop the technology and equipment that would be used.

Florida is ideally situated to tap into two major sources of ocean power: mechanical and thermal, the scientists said.

Mechanical power can be tapped by partially harnessing the Gulf Stream, which flows north off southeast Florida and carries more than 8 billion gallons of water a minute - 30 times the total flow of all the world's fresh water rivers, Driscoll said.

Imagine fields of turbines - similar to the windmills currently being used to harness wind energy - hundreds of feet beneath the waves generating power that could be directly carried to shore.

Thermal power is produced by the interaction of warm and cold water. The greater the temperature difference, the more power can be generated.

Ultra-cold water for AC

Florida is one of the world's regions where the temperature difference is greatest, with the warm Gulf Stream flowing over deep cold water that itself is flowing along the ocean depths from the Arctic, according to information provided by FAU.

Among the byproducts of thermal energy would be additional sources of fresh water and hydrogen, which could be used to augment natural gas or as a direct source of energy, Driscoll said.

Another thermal source would be the direct use of ultra-cold water for commercial air conditioning. Over 10 years, Driscoll predicted that the use of cold ocean water could reduce Florida's demand for hydrocarbon-based energy - much of which is used for air conditioning - by 20 percent.

Much of the ocean energy technology will be developed and tested off the Florida coast near Dania in a cooperative effort between FAU and the U.S. Navy.

Still to be determined will be the environmental impact of such activity on marine life and even on the Gulf Stream's rate of flow.