From Evidence to Action: Applying Data Transferability to Simplify Marine Energy Permitting

The OES-Environmental team at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is hosting an interactive workshop at the 2026 Ocean Renewable Energy Conference (OREC) + Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) from 8:00-10:00 AM PT on 19 May 2026 in Portland, Oregon, USA. 

Marine energy development is hampered by high environmental monitoring costs and extended timelines for permitting requirements. The data transferability concept developed by OES-Environmental ensures that data and evidence from operational and completed marine energy projects are readily available and catalogued for new projects to leverage. The results of research projects and analogous offshore industries can also inform new marine energy projects. With the data transferability process, duplication of effort and scientific uncertainty can be minimized. Applying this process then allows for proportionate research and monitoring efforts to focus on critical evidence gaps. 

The intent of the workshop is to explore the concept of data transferability in the context of tidal and wave energy in the U.S. and its applicability to various scenarios by using existing evidence and hypothetical marine energy projects. These scenarios will cover both tidal and wave energy and relevant environmental effects such as collision risk and underwater noise, in the form of U.S.-based hypothetical projects and relevant existing scientific information. The workshop participants will investigate the readiness of data transferability in the context of these scenarios and identify opportunities, challenges, and remaining knowledge gaps. Participants will also be encouraged to share their own experience with data sharing and/or transferability in the marine energy context. Workshop participants will gain a better understanding of the data transferability process and how to use the tools developed by OES-Environmental and others to help with the permitting of future projects and adaptation of existing plans.