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 | Advantages | Challenges | Project Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from landfall cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Demersal fish |
Design feature
Bundle cables together to reduce field vectors. |
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. |
Fish
Elasmobranch, large fish |
Design feature, Monitoring
Routine inspections of mooring lines. Implement features into existing control systems to detect entanglement events. |
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, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Xodus Group 2019, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, Argyll Tidal Demonstrator Project, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, PacWave South Test Site |
| 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. |
Fish
|
Monitoring
Monitoring and reporting of MNNS. |
Reduces/removes risk of transfer of non-native species. |
PLAT-O at EMEC | |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in water flow
The potential wider or secondary effects (siltation changes or smothering) on protected or sensitive littoral habitat due to changes in tidal flow around devices and associated moorings, support structures, or landfall cables. |
Habitat
Benthic invertebrates |
Monitoring
Pre and post installation monitoring of sensitive benthic communities, based on visual surveys. |
Reduce scientific uncertainty. |
Interpretation of data for statistical purposes may not have power to detect change generated by impact. May require correlation with detailed Computational Fluid Dynamics studies and physical flow measurements. |
Orbital Marine Power 2014, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, ScottishPower Renewables 2010, The Marine Institute 2016, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Shapinsay Sound Scale Tidal Test Site, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Sound of Islay Demonstration Tidal Array, Galway Bay Test Site |
| Wave | Operation & Maintenance | Dissipation of wave energy
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. |
Habitat
Benthic invertebrates |
Monitoring
Benthic and intertidal surveys focused on indicator species, species assemblage, community structure and ecosystem function. |
Reduce scientific uncertainty. |
Determining impacts against natural variability may be difficult. |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Xodus Group 2012, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, EMEC Shapinsay Sound Scale Tidal Test Site, Galway Bay Test Site, Pelamis Wave Power P2 Demonstration at EMEC |
| 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. |
Habitat
|
Mitigation
Establish and implement a Biofouling Management Plan. |
Reduce/remove risk of transfer of non-native species. |
Lack of industry specific guidance. |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Xodus Group 2019, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave 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. |
Marine Mammals
|
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 minimize interaction despite modelling to fully predict interaction. |
|
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for accidental or unplanned events which could lead to contamination of the marine environment. |
Marine Mammals
|
Design feature
Physical Containment systems including bulk heads, closed circuit systems, pressure relief systems. |
Reduces risk of contamination/pollution escaping from structure. |
Foubister 2005, MeyGen 2012, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, 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, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, Torr Head Project | |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans |
Monitoring
Fishing debris detected during routine inspections of mooring lines and cables will be removed. |
Remove/reduce risk of entanglement Low cost measure, implemented as part of standard O&M procedures. Regular monitoring will benefit system performance in addition to addressing environmental risks (e.g., early detection of damage or failures in the system). |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from underwater noise generated during installation/construction (excluding piling). |
Marine Mammals
|
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). |
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). |
Orbital Marine Power 2014, Xodus AURORA 2010, Aquatera Ltd 2011, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Davison and Mallows 2005, Xodus Group 2019, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, McGrath 2013, Aquatera 2017, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, DP Energy Ltd. 2017, HS1000 at EMEC, Wello Penguin at EMEC, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Fair Head Tidal Array, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site, Fair Head Tidal Array |
| 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. |
Reptiles
|
Monitoring
Monitoring of existing developments. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty. |
Can be complex and costly. |
|
| 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 |
Monitoring
Ensure standard notifications of loss of fishing gear in region notified to operators. Reporting of entanglement events. |
Good practice for emergency preparedness. |
Chances of lost fishing gear being reported is reportedly low. |
|
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
The potential wider or secondary effects (siltation changes or smothering) on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to scour or siltation around devices and associated moorings, support structures, and export cables. |
Benthic
|
Design feature
Minimize the amount of structure on the seabed. |
Minimises the changes in sediment dynamics due to presence of structure on the seabed. |
Can present financial/ logistical/ design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device/moorings. |
OpenHydro and SSE Renewables 2013, Brims Tidal Array |
| Wave | Operation & Maintenance | Dissipation of wave energy
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. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Monitoring
Benthic and intertidal surveys focused on indicator species, species assemblage, community structure and ecosystem function. |
Reduce scientific uncertainty. |
Determining impacts against natural variability may be difficult. |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2011, Xodus Group 2012, McGrath 2013, The Marine Institute 2016, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, EMEC Shapinsay Sound Scale Tidal Test Site, Costa Head Wave Farm, Fair Head Tidal Array, Galway Bay Test Site |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Habitat Creation
The introduction of infrastructure and artificial substrates may generate additional habitat diversity. |
Benthic
Benthic species |
Monitoring
Structure colonization and biofouling surveys. |
Informs understanding of potential for increased prey availability and ecological diversity. |
Cost associated with monitoring. |
Magallanes Renovables 2020, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Airborne noise
The potential effects from airborne noise from support vessel activity. |
Birds
Seabirds |
Mitigation
Adherence to Scotish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC). |
Magallanes Renovables 2020, Xodus Group 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, Aquatera 2017, Laminaria 2018, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, 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 | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Monitoring
Environmental monitoring to better understand near-field behaviour and avoidance. |
Telp reduce scientific uncertainty. |
Can be a high cost associated with this. Unclear how much monitoring will be required to fully understand this risk. Technology is not advanced enough yet to do this efficiently. Data mortgage (data generated more quickly than it can be analysed). ...Read moreCan be a high cost associated with this. Unclear how much monitoring will be required to fully understand this risk. Technology is not advanced enough yet to do this efficiently. Data mortgage (data generated more quickly than it can be analysed). Power supply availability - hard-wired vs. battery; power is required for monitoring and power availability can present logistical, financial, and technical challenges. Interaction between equipment - e.g., multibeam sonar/ADCP/echosounder; there can be interaction between monitoring equipment which can present challenges in monitoring. Certain equipment used such as PAM may actually effect behaviour themselves. Read less |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, OpenHydro and SSE Renewables 2013, Minesto 2016, SSE Renewables 2011, Xodus Group 2012, GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Brims Tidal Array, Minesto Holyhead Deep - Non-grid connected DG500, Westray South Tidal Project, Costa Head Wave Farm, 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
Fishing debris detected during routine inspections of mooring lines and cables will be removed. |
Remove/reduce risk of entanglement. Low cost measure, implemented as part of standard O&M procedures. Regular monitoring will benefit system performance in addition to addressing environmental risks (e.g., early detection of damage or failures in the system). |
||
| Wave, Tidal | Installation | Marine Non-Native Species (MNNS)
Potential for introduction of MNNS which can have an adverse impact on the native species at the site. |
Birds
|
Design feature
Avoid the introduction of hard bottom substrate into a soft bottom habitat. |
Ensures the efficient recovery of species native to the surrounding habitat. |
May have technical implications. |
|
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
Reduced visibility impacting prey detection and obstruction avoidance. |
Fish
|
Monitoring
Modelling to predict the interaction between changes in sediment dynamics 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. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Pontential risk of collision with device giving size and character of structure. |
Fish
|
Design feature
Device components (e.g., transformer and power conditioning equipment) are designed internally. |
Reduces potential for collision with external moving parts. |
The Marine Institute 2016, Galway Bay Test Site | |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from landfall cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Demersal fish |
Design feature
Bury cables where possible and viable. |
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 | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in lost fishing gear or other equipment trapped on infrastructure. |
Fish
Elasmobranch, large fish |
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. |
Xodus Group 2019, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site | |
| 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. |
Fish
|
Mitigation, Design feature
Antifouling application on components such as the pile and rodos blades. |
Helps prevent colonization of the device and structure, avoiding forming a stepping stone for non-native species. |
Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array 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. |
Habitat
|
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 subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Habitat
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Install cable protection, armor, rock placement, or other cable protection. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. Reduces 'snagging risk' for vessels. Creation of artificial habitat leading to greater fecundity in species. |
May have an impact on surrounding benthic habitats and sensitive species. Creation of artificial habitat may cause aggregation effect causing greater impact of EMF. Uncertainty around the need for and efficacy of this measure. Increased cost to project. ...Read moreMay have an impact on surrounding benthic habitats and sensitive species. Creation of artificial habitat may cause aggregation effect causing greater impact of EMF. Uncertainty around the need for and efficacy of this measure. Increased cost to project. Reduced possibilities for decommissioning in future. Direct disturbance/loss of benthic communities. Read less |
Foubister 2005, Orbital Marine Power 2010, MeyGen 2012, ScottishPower Renewables 2010, DP Energy Ltd. 2013, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, Sound of Islay Demonstration Tidal Array, West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park |
| 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. |
Habitat
|
Mitigation, Compliance
Adhere to appropriate measures when jettisoning ballast water. |
Reduce/remove risk of transfer of non-native species. |
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) | |
| 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. |
Marine Mammals
|
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. |
Marine Mammals
|
Mitigation
Material selection - lubricants, coolants, hydraulic fluids etc. - selected with low ecotoxicity levels and biodegradable. |
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, Galway Bay Test Site, Torr Head Project |
| 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 |
Monitoring
Ensure standard notifications of loss of fishing gear in region notified to operators. Reporting of entanglement events. |
Good practice for emergency preparedness. |
Chances of lost fishing gear being reported is reportedly low. |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, PacWave South Test Site |
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Underwater noise
The potential effects from underwater noise generated by wave and tidal energy converters. |
Marine Mammals
|
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 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, Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Orbital Marine Power 2014, Minesto 2016, Xodus AURORA 2010, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2019, ScottishPower Renewables 2010, Davison and Mallows 2005, McGrath 2013, Royal Haskoning 2012, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Minesto Holyhead Deep - Non-grid connected DG500, HS1000 at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Sound of Islay Demonstration Tidal Array, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Fair Head Tidal Array, Oyster 800 at EMEC |
| Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
Reduced visibility impacting prey detection and obstruction avoidance. |
Reptiles
|
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 device mooring lines and cables. |
Reptiles
Sea turtles |
Design feature, Monitoring
Routine inspections of mooring lines. Implement features into existing control systems to detect entanglement events. |
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. |
|
| Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Changes in sediment dynamics
The potential wider or secondary effects (siltation changes or smothering) on protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed due to scour or siltation around devices and associated moorings, support structures and export cables. |
Benthic
|
Monitoring
Modelling to predict the interaction between changes in sediment dynamics 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. |
Foubister 2005, MeyGen 2012, Project Management Support Services 2006, GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project - Phase I, Anglesey Skerries Tidal Stream Array, GSK Montrose Tidal Array |
| Wave | Operation & Maintenance | Dissipation of wave energy
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. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Monitoring
Modelling to predict the interaction between wave energy 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 | Habitat Creation
The introduction of infrastructure and artificial substrates will provide habitat and artificial refuges. |
Benthic
|
Monitoring
Monitor near-field behaviours. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty around collision risk, displacement, and other impacts. Increased value/ fecundity of commercially important species. Informs understanding of potential positivie impacts from colonization and use of project infrastructure. |
This type of monitoring can be expensive and difficult to deliver in practice. May require additional licensing (e.g. echosounders). |
Foubister 2005, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC |
| 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. |
Birds
|
Monitoring
Array installation carried out in phases. |
Allows close monitoring to observe any unexpected effects. |
GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, GSK Montrose Tidal Array | |
| Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Mitigation
Selective structural and blade coatings (e.g., colors to aide detection. |
Unknown - it is possible that this will aid detection of subsea structures and help reduce risk. |
Uncertainty around how animals use visual cues, could. Could result in 'attraction', increasing risk of collision. Use of such measures may be limited to conform with IALA standards. |
Xodus Group 2019, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave 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 |
Compliance
Ensure standard notifications of loss of fishing gear in region notified to operators. Reporting of entanglement events. |
Good practice for emergency preparedness. Help track effects/interaction with marine animals. |
Chances of lost fishing gear being reported is reportedly low. |