Accessing Management Measures that Support Deployment of Wave and Tidal Energy Devices
As the marine renewable energy (MRE) industry moves beyond deployment of individual wave and tidal energy devices towards arrays, certain risks of MRE devices on the marine environment are not well understood and have led to onerous monitoring requirements placed on device developers.
A workshop was held in May 2017 with researchers, regulators, and developers to create the basis for the tool shown below. In consultation with the research and regulatory communities, it was agreed that applying a set of robust management measures could act as safeguards for marine animals and habitats until available monitoring data allows for determining the level of risk from MRE devices. At that point, measures could be dialed back or removed, if warranted. More information on the workshop and input for the tool can be found here.
The Management Measures Tool for Marine Energy shows management (or mitigation) measures from past or current MRE projects as a reference to help manage potential risks from future projects and allow them to move forward in the face of uncertainty, or until a risk can be retired. Additional management measures are regularly added by the OES-Environmental team. In addition to the searchable tool below, the information can be downloaded here. The download file includes additional details not shown below, including comments from stakeholders on past experience, cost of management measures, and when a management measure is needed.
View the instructions document for more in-depth details and examples on how to use the Management Measure Tool for Marine Energy or check out this webinar for an overview and demonstration of the tool.
Last updated January 2023
| Technology | Project Phase | Stressor | Receptor | Management Measure | Implications of Measure | Advantages | Challenges | Project Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Design feature
Physical Ccontainment systems including bulk heads, closed circuit systems, pressure relief systems. |
Reduces risk of contamination escaping from structure. |
Reduces risk of contamination/pollution escaping from structure. |
Foubister 2005, MeyGen 2012, DP Energy Ltd. 2013, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, THETIS Energy 2009, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, Torr Head Project | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from landfall cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Demersal fish |
Design feature
Device components (e.g., transformer and power conditioning equipment) are designed internally. |
Reduces field effects external to the device |
Reduces field effects external to the device. |
DP Energy Ltd. 2013, Aquatera Ltd 2011, West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park, Wello Penguin at EMEC | |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Fish
Elasmobranch, large fish |
Design feature
Minimise the number of mooring lines. |
Reduce risk of entanglement. |
Could be a costly measure for technology developers. |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from underwater noise generated during installation/ construction (excluding piling). |
Mitigation
Avoid/limit 'noisy works' within close proximity to sensitive sites i.e. known seal haul outs during sensitive periods, defining appropriate clearance distances where necessary. |
This could reduce potential effects on sensitive species during sensitive periods, but could increase project construction timescales and thus costs e.g. if continuous drilling time is restricted or specific periods need to be avoided. |
Could reduce potential effects on sensitive species during sensitive periods. |
Could increase project construction timescales (e.g., if continuous drilling time is restricted or specific periods need to be avoided). |
Aquatera Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, McGrath 2013, Aquatera 2017, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, THETIS Energy 2009, Wello Penguin at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Fair Head Tidal Array, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site, Torr Head Project | |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Design feature
Design structures to minimise effect on turbulence structure. |
Minimizes change in turbulence structure and hence potential interaction. |
Can present financial, logistical, or design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device/moorings. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Ramsey Sound | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Habitat
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Use of 3-phase cables instead of DC cables. |
Reduces the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects, however there are potential commercial and technical feasibility issues surrounding the specific project requirements as well as some disagreement as to the efficacy of this measure. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. |
Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. Uncertainty around the need for and efficacy of this measure. |
Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Ramsey Sound |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Marine Non-Native Species (MNNS)
Potential for introduction of MNNS which can have an adverse impact on the native species at the site. |
Mitigation
Source vessels locally. |
Reduce/remove risk of transfer and settlement of non-native species. |
Reduce/remove risk of transfer and settlement of non-native species. |
Orbital Marine Power 2018, Mocean Wave Energy Converter: Blue Horizon | ||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
Modifications to prey distribution and abundance (to include for other receptors) resulting in changes to foraging behaviour. |
Design feature
Site selection. |
Minimizes significance of interaction. |
ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Mitigation
Where rock placement is used, ensure clean rock is used. |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination from materials. |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination/pollution from materials |
|||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans |
Design feature, Monitoring
Routine inspections of mooring lines. Implement features into existing control systems to detect entanglement events. |
Removes/reduces risk of entanglement and is a low cost monitoring capability. |
Remove/reduce risk of entanglement. Likely to be required as part of the technical monitoring of the device and therefore not an additional cost. |
Could be a costly measure for technology developers if not required as part of technical monitoring of device. |
Argyll Tidal Limited 2013, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Argyll Tidal Demonstrator Project, PacWave South Test Site |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from underwater noise generated during installation/ construction (excluding piling). |
Mitigation
Limit vessel speed. |
Reduces potential effects. Relatively low-cost measure. |
SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd 2011, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
Sediment disturbance disrupting water clarity that results in smothering of fish spawning grounds. |
Mitigation
Best practice methodologies to reduce resuspension of sediment during cable burial or device foundation/mooring installation. |
|||||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in lost fishing gear or other equipment trapped on infrastructure. |
Reptiles
Sea turtles |
Mitigation
Fisheries management: Agreement with fishermen not to fish near to the device, warning of the dangers of losing equipment. |
Reduces potential for entanglement of fishing gear in mooring lines and thus potential for entanglement of sea turtles. |
Reduces potential for entanglement of fishing gear in mooring lines and thus potential for entanglement of sea turtles. |
||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Monitoring
Installation of ADCPs and turbulence sensors to better understand the baseline tidal flow conditions and hence the change in tidal flow due to presence of the device(s). |
Reduce scientific uncertainty. |
Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Aquatera 2017, Ramsey Sound, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from landfall cables on sensitive species. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Install cable protection or armour. |
Foubister 2005, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, PacWave South Test Site | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Habitat Loss
Direct loss of protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed communities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings or support structures on the seabed. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates, demersal fish |
Design feature
Minimize footprint of anchors / foundations. |
This could reduce effects on sensitive habitats, however the size of anchors/foundations likely to be that which is suitable for the safe and optimal operation of devices. |
Could reduce effects on sensitive habitats. |
May impact technical considerations, such as size of anchors/foundations that are safe and optimal for operation of device(s). |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Aquatera Ltd 2011, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, RSK Group 2012, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Wello Penguin at EMEC, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation | Barrier to movement
Potential barrier to movement due to the physical presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures, cables and electrical equipment. |
Design feature
Array/ mooring configuration designed to avoid migratory routes or other important sites. |
Minimises risk of development acting as a barrier to movement by avoiding migratory routes or other important sites. |
May be inconsistent with optimal layout of the development for exploitation of the energy source. Can be a costly measure when scaling up to larger arrays. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Oyster 800 at EMEC | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Pontential risk of collision with device giving size and character of structure |
Design feature
Device components (e.g., transformer and power conditioning equipment) are designed internally. |
Reduces potential for collision with external moving parts |
Reduces potential for collision with external moving parts. |
Aquatera Ltd 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, Wello Penguin at EMEC, Galway Bay Test Site | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in lost fishing gear or other equipment trapped on infrastructure. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Mitigation
Fisheries management: Agreement with fishermen not to fish near to the device, warning of the dangers of losing equipment. |
Reduces potential for entanglement of fishing gear in mooring lines and thus potential for entanglement of marine animals. |
Reduces potential for entanglement of fishing gear in mooring lines and thus potential for entanglement of marine animals. |
Xodus Group 2019, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from underwater noise generated during installation/ construction (excluding piling). |
Birds
Seabirds |
Mitigation
Avoid/limit 'noisy works' within close proximity to sensitive sites (e.g., known seal haul outs during sensitive periods) defining appropriate clearance distances where necessary. |
This could reduce potential effects on sensitive species during sensitive periods, but could increase project construction timescales and thus costs e.g. if continuous drilling time is restricted or specific periods need to be avoided. |
Could reduce potential effects on sensitive species during sensitive periods. |
Could increase project construction timescales and thus costs (e.g., if continuous drilling time is restricted or specific periods need to be avoided). |
Aquatera Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, McGrath 2013, Orbital Marine Power 2014, Aquatera 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, THETIS Energy 2009, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Wello Penguin at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Fair Head Tidal Array, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, PacWave South Test Site, Torr Head Project |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Monitoring
Installation of ADCPs and turbulence sensors to better understand the baseline tidal flow conditions and hence the change in tidal flow due to presence of the device(s). |
Reduce scientific uncertainty. |
Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Aquatera 2017, Ramsey Sound, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Mitigation
Material selection - lubricants, coolants, hydraulic fluids etc. - selected with low ecotoxicity levels and biodegradable. |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination from materials which may have escaped structure. Alrhough, use of lower toxicity materials may compromise performance, or impact other technical issues (e.g. fluid changes). |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination/pollution from materials which may have escaped structure. |
Use of lower toxicity materials may compromise performance, or impact other technical issues (e.g., fluid changes.) |
Foubister 2005, Foubister 2005, MeyGen 2012, Xodus AURORA 2010, DP Energy Ltd. 2013, The Marine Institute 2016, THETIS Energy 2009, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, HS1000 at EMEC, West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park, Galway Bay Test Site, Torr Head Project | |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Migratory fish |
Design feature
Use of 3-phase cables instead of DC cables. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues some disagreement as to efficacy of this measure. Additionally, the cables used will largely depend upon the project requirements. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects |
Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues - the cables used will largely depend upon the project requirements. Some uncertainty as to the efficacy of this measure. |
|
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Fish
Elasmobranch, large fish |
Mitigation
Install a 'detect and shut-down' system using active sonar and other appropriate monitoring equipment. |
This could reduce/remove risk of collision with moving blades and enable a route through the consenting process, particulalrly at high sensitivity locations....Read more This could reduce/remove risk of collision with moving blades and enable a route through the consenting process, particulalrly at high sensitivity locations. However, this could affect power production, is expensive to implement and does not help to reduce scientific uncertainty regarding the risk. The reductions in power production, although small, would bring about uncertainty in the investment process and there are questions around impacts of sonar on sensitive species. Read less |
Could reduce/remove risk of collision with moving blades and enable a route through the consenting process, particulalrly at high sensitivity locations. |
Could affect power production, is expensive to implement, and does not help to reduce scientific uncertainty regarding the risk. The reductions in power production, although small, would bring about uncertainty in the investment process and there are questions around impacts of sonar on sensitive species. |
Xodus Group 2019, Davison and Mallows 2005, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL) |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Underwater noise
The potential effects from underwater noise generated by wave and tidal energy converters. |
Monitoring
Measure noise generated by device(s) during operation to better understand the potential effects on sensitive species. |
Measured noise levels can be correlated with threshold values of relevant species to determine impact and need for adaptive management measures. It can be complex and costly to undertake this type of monitoring in high energy environments. |
Measured noise levels can be correlated with threshold values of relevant species and baseline noise levels of the site to determine impact and need for adaptive management measures. |
Can be complex and costly to undertake this type of monitoring in high energy environments. Data and analysis have requirement for acoustic experts. |
SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd 2011, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2019, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site | |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Monitoring
Modelling to predict the interaction between changes in tidal flow, flux and turbulence structure and animals. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty so appropriate management measures can be employed |
Limited management measures available to minimise interaction despite modelling to fully predict interaction |
GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, Orbital Marine Power 2014, Craig 2008, GSK Montrose Tidal Array, OpenHydro Alderney | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Habitat
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Bundle cables together to reduce field vectors. |
Reduces the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects, however there is potential for less redundancy in the system together with potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. |
Less redundancy in system. Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Marine Non-Native Species (MNNS)
Potential for introduction of MNNS which can have an adverse impact on the native species at the site. |
Mitigation, Design feature
Antifouling application on components such as the pile and rodos blades. |
To prevent colonisation of the device and prevent the structure forming a stepping stone for non-native species. |
Prevents colonization of the device and structure, avoiding forming a stepping stone for non-native species. |
Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project | ||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Mitigation, Monitoring, Design feature
Install a 'detect and shut-down' system using active sonar and other appropriate monitoring equipment (e.g., Marine Mammal Detections Sonar System [MMDS]). |
This could reduce/remove risk of collision with moving blades and enable a route through the consenting process, particulalrly at high sensitivity locations....Read more This could reduce/remove risk of collision with moving blades and enable a route through the consenting process, particulalrly at high sensitivity locations. However, this could affect power production, is expensive to implement and does not help to reduce scientific uncertainty regarding the risk. The reductions in power production, although small, would bring about uncertainty in the investment process and there are questions around impacts of sonar on sensitive species. Read less |
Could reduce/remove risk of collision with moving blades and enable a route through the consenting process, particulalrly at high sensitivity locations. |
Could affect power production, is expensive to implement, and does not help reduce scientific uncertainty regarding the risk. Uncertainty around effects of sonar on sensitive species. Not certain how often ‘shut-downs’ would be required. Detection systems are currently insufficient to detect animals (in particular at array scale). Reductions in power production, although small, would bring about uncertainty in the investment process. |
Harrison et al. 2015, Orbital Marine Power 2010, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Keenan et al. 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Xodus Group 2019, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Minesto 2016, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Churchill Barriers - Wave Overtopping and Tidal Flow Energy Capture, Pelamis Wave Power P2 Demonstration at EMEC, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Minesto Holyhead Deep - Non-grid connected DG500, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Mitigation, Compliance
Management: Establish and implement a Contamination Control Plan / Ship Oil Contamination Emergency Plans (SOPEPs). Compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) codes for the prevention of contamination. |
Reduces risk of any contamination event, ensures that contingency plans are in place and demonstrates compliance with environmental management systems. |
Reduces risk of any contamination/pollution event and ensures that contingency plans are in place. Demonstrates compliance with environmental management systems. |
Low 2012, Foubister 2005, GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, MeyGen 2012, Davison and Mallows 2005, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, GSK Montrose Tidal Array, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in lost fishing gear or other equipment trapped on infrastructure. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans |
Mitigation
Fisheries management: Agreement with fishermen not to fish near to the device, warning of the dangers of losing equipment. |
Reduces potential for entanglement of fishing gear in mooring lines and thus potential for entanglement of marine animals. |
Reduces potential for entanglement of fishing gear in mooring lines and thus potential for entanglement of marine animals. |
Xodus Group 2019, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from airborne noise from support vessel activity. |
Mitigation
Adherence to Scotish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC). |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Xodus Group 2019, Magallanes Renovables 2020, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, Aquatera 2017, Laminaria 2018, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Mocean Wave Energy Converter: Blue Horizon | ||||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Monitoring
Installation of ADCPs and turbulence sensors to better understand the baseline tidal flow conditions and hence the change in tidal flow due to presence of the device(s). |
Reduce scientific uncertainty. |
||||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Reptiles
Sea turtles |
Design feature
Minimise the number of mooring lines. |
Reduce risk of entanglement. |
Could be a costly measure for technology developers. |
||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Design feature
Design structures to minimise effect on turbulence structure. |
Minimises change in turbulence structure and hence potential interaction. |
Can present financial/ logistical/ design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device/ moorings |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Ramsey Sound | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Use of 3-phase cables instead of DC cables. |
Reduces the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects, however there are potential commercial and technical feasibility issues surrounding the specific project requirements as well as some disagreement as to the efficacy of this measure. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. |
Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. Uncertainty around the need for and efficacy of this measure. |
Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Ramsey Sound |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Habitat Loss
Direct loss of protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed communities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings or support structures on the seabed. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates, demersal fish |
Design feature
Cable protection management measures to ensure that any rock placement that is required will be kept to a minimum to reduce seabed disturbance. |
This could reduce effects on sensitive habitats. |
Could reduce effects on sensitive habitats. |
Additional cost. |
Foubister 2005, RSK Group 2012, Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Oyster 800 at EMEC |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Barrier to movement
Potential barrier to movement due to the physical presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures, cables and electrical equipment. |
Mitigation
Adherence to vessel management plan. |
Minimizes the potential interaction between animals and construction or maintenance vessels. |
OpenHydro and SSE Group 2013, Aquatera 2017, ScottishPower Renewables 2010, Brims Tidal Array, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Sound of Islay Demonstration Tidal Array | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation | Collision risk
Potential barrier to movement due to the physical presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures, cables and electrical equipment. |
Monitoring
Array instalation carried out in phases. |
Allows close monitoring to observe any unexpected effects |
Allows close monitoring to observe any unexpected effects. |
GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, GSK Montrose Tidal Array | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Design feature
Cable design with maximum bend radius. |
Remove/reduce risk of entanglement |
Mooring design driven by technical and commercial consideration. |
Foubister 2005, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Birds
Birds on water |
Mitigation
Do not break up or 'flush' rafts of birds. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure, however effectiveness of mitigation is unclear. Also pertinent to note that the measure is selectively applied to project vessels in context of other vessel operations. |
Reduces potential effects. Relatively low-cost measure. |
Effectiveness of mitigation unclear. Pertinent to note that the measure is selectively applied to project vessels in context of other vessel operations. |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Aquatera 2017, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Design feature
Design structures to minimise effect on turbulence structure. |
Minimizes change in turbulence structure and hence potential interaction. |
Can present financial, logistical, or design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device/moorings. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Ramsey Sound | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Mitigation
Where rock placement is used, ensure clean rock is used. |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination from materials. |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination/pollution from materials |
|||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Elasmobranchs |
Design feature
Use of 3-phase cables instead of DC cables. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues some disagreement as to efficacy of this measure. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. |
Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. Some uncertainty as to the efficacy of this measure. |
Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Ramsey Sound |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entrapment
Potential risk of entrapment within device chambers and mooring arrays. |
Mitigation
Regular ROV/drop down camera surveys to establish occurrence of entrapment. |
Early detection of entrapment. |
Additional cost. |
Foubister 2005, Orbital Marine Power 2010, McPherson 2015, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Nova Tidal Array | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from underwater noise generated during installation/ construction (excluding piling). |
Mitigation
Limit vessel speed. |
Reduces potential effects. Relatively low-cost measure. |
SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd 2011, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC | |||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Design feature
Site selection. |
Minimizes significance of interaction. |
ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Habitat
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Bury or HDD cables where possible and viable. |
Reduces the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects, however the implementation of this measure may have an impact on surrounding benthic habitats and sensitive species. Also reduces 'snagging risk' for vessels. ...Read moreReduces the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects, however the implementation of this measure may have an impact on surrounding benthic habitats and sensitive species. Also reduces 'snagging risk' for vessels. This measure forms part of normal project design. Read less |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. Reduces 'snagging risk' for vessels. |
May have an impact on surrounding benthic habitats and sensitive species. Uncertainty around the need for and efficacy of this measure. Can be very challenging or impossible at sites where seabed tends to be rocky. Additional expense to the project. Reduced possibility for decommissioning. |
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL), PacWave South Test Site |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Airborne noise
The potential effects from airborne noise generated during installation/construction (excluding piling). |
Mitigation
Avoid/limit 'noisy works' within close proximity to sensitive sites (e.g., known seal haul outs and important cliff nesting sites) during sensitive periods, defining appropriate clearance distances where necessary. |
This could reduce potential effects on sensitive species during sensitive periods, however may could increase project construction timescales e.g. if continuous drilling time is restricted or specific periods need to be avoided. |
Could reduce potential effects on sensitive species during sensitive periods. |
Could increase project construction timescales (e.g., if continuous drilling time is restricted or specific periods need to be avoided). |
Foubister 2005, SSE Group 2011, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, McGrath 2013, SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd 2011, Aquatera 2017, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, McGrath 2013, DP Energy Ltd. 2017, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Westray South Tidal Project, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site, Fair Head Tidal Array | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Collision risk
The potential effects from airborne noise from support vessel activity. |
Marine Mammals
Seals |
Mitigation
Adherence to Scotish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC). |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Xodus Group 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, SSE Group 2011, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Aquatera 2017, Laminaria 2018, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Westray South Tidal Project, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Mocean Wave Energy Converter: Blue Horizon | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for oil spill incident resulting from the influence of unfavourable weather conditions. |
Mitigation
Vessel activities to occur in suitable weather conditions. |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment. |
MeyGen 2012, The Marine Institute 2016, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, Galway Bay Test Site, Pelamis Wave Power P2 Demonstration at EMEC | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans |
Design feature
Minimise the number of mooring lines. |
Reduce risk of entanglement. |
Could be a costly measure for technology developers. |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Vessel collision
Potential for collision with project vessels. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans |
Mitigation
Adhere to minimum approach distances for vessels on approach. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Xodus Group 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, Aquatera 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Oyster 800 at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, PacWave South Test Site | |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Design feature
Design structures to minimise effect on turbulence structure. |
Minimizeschange in turbulence structure and hence potential interaction. |
Can present financial, logistical, or design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device/moorings |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen) | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entrapment
Potential risk of entrapment within device chambers and mooring arrays. |
Mitigation
Release entrapped animal. |
|||||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Monitoring
Modelling to predict the interaction between changes in tidal flow, flux and turbulence structure and animals. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty so appropriate management measures can be employed. |
Limited management measures available to minimise interaction despite modelling to fully predict interaction |
|||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from landfall cables on sensitive species. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Limit cable voltage. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Habitat Loss
Direct loss of protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed communities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings or support structures on the seabed. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates, demersal fish |
Mitigation
Use of locally sourced materials, for cable protection, of the same type as the habitat to be disturbed by cable installation. |
Minimize impact on biodiversity/ecosystem. |
Minimize impact on biodiversity/ecosystem - lost seabed is replaced with same material and minimizes habitat loss. |
Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL) | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
Reduced visibility impacting prey detection and obstruction avoidance. |
Mitigation
Best practice methodologies to reduce resuspension of sediment during cable burial or device foundation/mooring installation. |
Foubister 2005, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site | ||||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Mitigation
Reduce maximum blade tip speed. |
Could reduce the likelihood or consequence of potential collision events. |
Potential impacts on power production. Control mechanism of turbine blade speed unclear. May cause increased fatigue. |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Monitoring
Install tension sensors on mooring lines. |
Informs of problem with mooring lines allowing rectification. Cost per unit. |
Additional cost and control system integration requirement. Load from entangled animal is likely to be smaller than the device loading on the moorings. Uncertainty of the efficacy of this measure. |
Laminaria 2018, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Birds
Birds on water |
Mitigation
Adhere to minimum approach distances for vessels on approach. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure, however effectiveness of mitigation is unclear. Can increase the time of operational procedures and thus increase cost. ...Read moreReduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure, however effectiveness of mitigation is unclear. Can increase the time of operational procedures and thus increase cost. Further monitoring, e.g. defining of approach distances and then comparing these to see which are most effective would validate the efficacy of the measure. Read less |
Reduces potential effects. Relatively low-cost measure. |
Effectiveness of mitigation is unclear. Further monitoring (e.g., defining of approach distances and then comparing these to see which are most effective) would validate the efficacy of the measure. Can increase the time of operational procedures and thus increase cost. |
Xodus Group 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, DP Energy Ltd. 2017, Aquatera 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Fair Head Tidal Array, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, PacWave South Test Site |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
Modifications to prey distribution and abundance (to include for other receptors) resulting in changes to foraging behaviour. |
Design feature
Design structures to minimise effect on turbulence structure. |
Minimizes change in turbulence structure and hence potential interaction. |
Can present financial, logistical, or design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device/moorings. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Ramsey Sound | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Compliance
Management: Establish and implement a Contamination Control Plan/Ship Oil Contamination Emergency Plans (SOPEPs). Compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) codes for the prevention of contamination. |
Reduces risk of any contamination event and ensures that contingency plans are in place. Demonstrates compliance with environmental management systems. |
Reduces risk of any contamination/pollution event and ensures that contingency plans are in place. Demonstrates compliance with environmental management systems. |
Foubister 2005, GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, MeyGen 2012, DP Energy Ltd. 2013, Foubister 2005, Davison and Mallows 2005, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, GSK Montrose Tidal Array, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Migratory fish |
Design feature
Bundle cables together to reduce field vectors. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. Could result in there being less redundancy in the system and potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. |
Less redundancy in system. Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. Greater costs associated with not laying direct cable paths. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Habitat Creation
The introduction of infrastructure and artificial substrates will provide habitat and artificial refuges. |
Monitoring
Monitor near-field behaviours. |
Informs understanding of potential positive impacts from colonisation and use of the project infrastructure which could benefit future project applications. However, there is a cost implication associated with monitoring. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty around collision risk, displacement, and other impacts. Increased value/fecundity of commercially important species. Informs understanding of potential positive impacts from colonisation and use of the project infrastructure. |
Can be expensive and difficult to deliver in practice. May require additional licensing (e.g., echosounders). |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Xodus Group 2019, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Laminaria 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from airborne noise from support vessel activity. |
Mitigation
Adherence to Scotish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC). |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Xodus Group 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, Aquatera 2017, Laminaria 2018, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Mocean Wave Energy Converter: Blue Horizon | ||||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Design feature
Physical containment systems including bulk heads, closed circuit systems, pressure relief systems. |
Reduces risk of contamination escaping from structure. |
Reduces risk of contamination/pollution escaping from structure. |
Foubister 2005, MeyGen 2012, South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWDRA) 2006, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Galway Bay Test Site | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Habitat Creation
The introduction of infrastructure and artificial substrates will provide habitat and artificial refuges. |
Monitoring
Monitor near-field behaviours. |
Informs understanding of potential for colonisation, however there is a cost implication associated with monitoring. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty around collision risk, displacement, and other impacts. Increased value/fecundity of commercially important species. |
Can be expensive and difficult to deliver in practice. May require additional licensing (e.g., echosounders). |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation | Barrier to movement
Potential barrier to movement due to the physical presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures, cables and electrical equipment. |
Design feature
Site selection to avoid sensitive routes/areas. |
Minimizes risk of development acting as a barrier to movement by avoiding migratory routes or other important sites. |
ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array | |||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Mitigation
Install propeller guards. |
McGrath 2013, Fair Head Tidal Array | ||||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Contamination
Potential for oil/hydraulic spill incident resulting from the maintenance activities. |
Mitigation
All maintenance activities involving oil/hydraulic fluid treatments will be carried out on-shore. |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment. |
Foubister 2005, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans |
Mitigation
Install strain gauges on the device |
It allows alerting the operator of an entanglement event |
Alerts the opertaor in the event of an entanglement event. |
Magallanes Renovables 2020, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Mitigation
Reduce speed and maintain steady course when animal is sighted. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Xodus AURORA 2010, Aquatera Ltd 2011, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Royal Haskoning 2012, Aquatera 2017, Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Oyster 800 at EMEC, HS1000 at EMEC, Wello Penguin at EMEC, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL), PacWave South Test Site | ||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Monitoring
Modelling to predict the interaction between changes in tidal flow, flux, and turbulence structure and animals. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty so appropriate management measures can be employed |
Limited management measures available to minimise interaction despite modelling to fully predict interaction |
|||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entrapment
Potential risk of entrapment within device chambers and mooring arrays. |
Mitigation
Regular ROV/drop down camera surveys to establish occurrence of entrapment |
Early detection of entrapment. |
Additional cost. |
|||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Design feature
Site selection. |
Minimises significance of interaction. |
ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Bundle cables together to reduce field vectors. |
Reduces the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects, however there is potential for less redundancy in the system together with potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects |
Less redundancy in system. Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Habitat Loss
Direct loss of protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed communities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings or support structures on the seabed. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates, demersal fish |
Design feature
Site selection to avoid sensitive or protected sub-littoral seabed communities. |
This could reduce/remove effects on sensitive habitats. |
Orbital Marine Power 2014, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
Sediment disturbance disrupting water clarity that results in smothering of fish spawning grounds. |
Mitigation
Best practice methodologies to reduce resuspension of sediment during cable burial or device foundation/mooring installation. |
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site | ||||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Mitigation
Design proportion of swept area to structure area to minimise collision risk. |
This could reduce the likelihood/consequence of potential collision events. |
Can be a high cost associated with this. Can present financial/ logistical/ design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I | |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Design feature
Minimise the number of mooring lines. |
Reduce risk of entanglement. |
Could be a costly measure for technology developers. |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Birds
Shore-nesting birds |
Mitigation
Avoidance of sensitive shore nesting areas during sensitive periods with appropriate clearance distance. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Reduces potential effects. Relatively low-cost measure. |
OpenHydro and SSE Group 2013, Orbital Marine Power 2014, Foubister 2005, Xodus Group 2019, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Orbital Marine Power 2014, Aquatera 2017, The Marine Institute 2016, THETIS Energy 2009, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Brims Tidal Array, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Galway Bay Test Site, Torr Head Project | |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Monitoring
Modelling to predict the interaction between changes in tidal flow, flux, and turbulence structure and animals. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty so appropriate management measures can be employed. |
Limited management measures available to minimise interaction despite modelling to fully predict interaction. |
|||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for oil spill incident resulting from the influence of unfavourable weather conditions. |
Mitigation
Vessel activities to occur in suitable weather conditions. |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment. |
MeyGen 2012, The Marine Institute 2016, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, Galway Bay Test Site, Pelamis Wave Power P2 Demonstration at EMEC | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Elasmobranchs |
Design feature
Bundle cables together to reduce field vectors. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. Could result in there being less redundancy in the system and potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. |
Less redundancy in system. Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. Greater costs associated with not laying direct cable paths. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Habitat Loss
Direct loss of protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed communities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings or support structures on the seabed. |
Fish
Demersal fish |
Design feature
Micrositing of offshore infrastructure to avoid sensitive habitats and minimise footprint. |
This could reduce/remove effects on sensitive habitats and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Could reduce/remove effects on sensitive habitats. Low cost measure at single device or small-scale array. |
Foubister 2005, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Laminaria 2018, The Marine Institute 2016, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Galway Bay Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Fish
Elasmobranch, large fish |
Mitigation
Reduce speed and maintain steady course when animal is sighted. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Aquatera Ltd 2011, Magallanes Renovables 2020, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, SSE Group 2011, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Royal Haskoning 2012, Aquatera 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Wello Penguin at EMEC, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Westray South Tidal Project, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, PacWave South Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Mitigation
Material selection - lubricants, coolants, hydraulic fluids etc. selected with low ecotoxicity levels and biodegradable. |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination from materials which may have escaped structure. However, the use of lower toxicity materials may compromise performance, or impact other technical issue (e.g. fluuid changes). |
Reduces/removes risk of contamination/pollution from materials which may have escaped structure. |
Use of lower toxicity materials may compromise performance or impact other technical issues (e.g., fluid changes.) |
Foubister 2005, MeyGen 2012, Xodus AURORA 2010, The Marine Institute 2016, THETIS Energy 2009, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, HS1000 at EMEC, Galway Bay Test Site, Torr Head Project | |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Habitat Creation
The introduction of infrastructure and artificial substrates will provide potential roosting habitat. |
Habitat
Roosting birds |
Monitoring
Monitor use of device as a roosting platform. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty around collision risk, displacement and other impacts, however this type of monitoring can be expensive. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty around collision risk, displacement, and other impacts. Monitoring is relatively inexpensive to carry out. |
Data mortgage (data gathered more quickly than it can be analyzed). |
|
| Wave, Tidal | Installation | Barrier to movement
Potential barrier to movement due to the physical presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures, cables and electrical equipment. |
Design feature
Array/mooring configuration designed to avoid migratory routes or other important sites |
Minimizes risk of development acting as a barrier to movement by avoiding migratory routes or other important sites |
May be inconsistent with optimal layout of the development for exploitation of the energy source. Can be a costly measure when scaling up to larger arrays. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen) | ||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Mitigation, Design feature
Install a 'detect and deter' system using a combination of active sonar and acoustic deterrent device (ADD). |
This could reduce likelihood of collision with moving blades although the efficacy of ADDs in these environments is unknown and habituation to ADDs is known to occur in other industries. Could enable a route through the consenting process. ...Read moreThis could reduce likelihood of collision with moving blades although the efficacy of ADDs in these environments is unknown and habituation to ADDs is known to occur in other industries. Could enable a route through the consenting process. This measure is expensive to implement and it is still unknown if deterrent systems will help reduce risk. There are also questions around the effects of ADDs on sensitive species. Their addition adds another noise impact which must also be considered in any project assessments. Would rely on well proven and reliable 'detect and deter' systems. Also, mitigation against collision may prevent discovering whether or not it is a real issue. Further research around ADDs which deter specific groups or species, is underway. This could be useful in deterring specific sensitive species or species groups, at a particular site. For example, University of St Andrews is seveloping an ADD which deter seals, but which don't effect cetaceans. Read less |
Could reduce likelihood of collision with moving blades and enable a route through the consenting process. |
Would rely on well proven and reliable system - efficacy of ADDs is unknown in these environments and unknown if deterrent systems will help reduce risk. Expensive to implement. Questions around the effects of ADDs (e.g., added noise) on sensitive species. Detection systems are currently insufficient to detect animals (in particular at array scale). Further research around ADDs which deter specific groups or species, is underway. This could be useful in deterring specific sensitive species or species groups, at a particular site. For example, University of St Andrews is seveloping an ADD which deter seals, but which don't effect cetaceans. |
Harrison et al. 2015, Orbital Marine Power 2010, Keenan et al. 2011, Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, THETIS Energy 2009, Churchill Barriers - Wave Overtopping and Tidal Flow Energy Capture, Pelamis Wave Power P2 Demonstration at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Oyster 800 at EMEC, Torr Head Project | |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation | Contamination
Accidental release of contaminants during installation including diesel fuel, oil hydraulic fluids, etc. |
Mitigation
Best practice methodologies to reduce risk of accidental release of contaminants. |
Reduces risk of contamination escaping from structure. |
Reduces risk of contamination/pollution escaping from structure. |
DP Energy Ltd. 2013, West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entrapment
Potential risk of entrapment within device chambers and mooring arrays. |
Mitigation
Release entrapped animal. |
Animal may be deceased before it is able to be released. |
Animal may be deceased before they are able to be released. |
Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL) | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Mitigation
Use smaller vessels for maintenance purposes. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Reduces potential effects and is a relatively low cost measure. |
Aquatera Ltd 2011, Laminaria 2018, Wello Penguin at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site | ||
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to removal or alteration of energy flow arising from devices and moorings or support structures. |
Design feature
Site selection. |
Minimizes significance of interaction. |
ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Habitat Creation
The introduction of infrastructure and artificial substrates will provide habitat and artificial refuges. |
Monitoring
Monitor near-field behaviours. |
Informs understanding of potential positive impacts from colonisation and use of the project infrastructure which could benefit future project applications. However, there is a cost implication associated with monitoring. |
Informs understanding of potential positive impacts from colonisation and use of the project infrastructure. Reduces scientific uncertainty around collision risk, displacement, and other impacts. Increased value/fecundity of commercially important species. |
Can be expensive and difficult to deliver in practice. May require additional licensing (e.g., echosounders). |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Design feature
Physical Containment systems including bulk heads, closed circuit systems, pressure relief systems. |
Reduces risk of contamination escaping from structure. |
Reduces risk of contamination/pollution escaping from structure. |
Foubister 2005, MeyGen 2012, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, The Marine Institute 2016, Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL), Galway Bay Test Site, Oyster 800 at EMEC | ||
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from landfall cables on sensitive species. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Use of 3-phase cables instead of DC cables. |
Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Ramsey Sound | |||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Habitat Loss
Seabed habitat disturbance/loss or changes to seabed habitat |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates, demersal fish |
Mitigation
Adherence to vessel anchor and device anchor/mooring plans. |
Minimize impact on biodiversity/ ecosystem. |
Minimize impact on biodiversity/ecosystem. |
Xodus Group 2019, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, PacWave South Test Site |