Abstract
Chapter 2 examines the status of environmental monitoring around deployed and upcoming MRE devices in countries around the world, with a major emphasis on OES-Environmental member countries.
While there is currently no accurate count of the number of MRE devices that have been deployed around the world over the past two decades, it is safe to say that many have had no environmental assessments or post-installation monitoring associated with them. However, 86 MRE projects were identified for which environmental baseline and/or post-installation monitoring were carried out, with an emphasis on stressor-receptor interactions. The United Kingdom, Europe, and the Americas lead with the greatest number of MRE devices with associated environmental monitoring, while other locations around the world are also moving forward with environmental assessments and research. The presence of established test centers appears to have a strong influence on the number of deployments with associated environmental monitoring, and likely also on the number of overall deployments. Other factors that encourage the number of deployments with environmental data collection include the available resources in a country, including the presence of research institutions and researchers; a developed regulatory process for consenting; a developed supply chain; offshore expertise; and other maritime uses in the vicinity. Five case studies were used to highlight the different types of monitoring that have been required for tidal, riverine, and wave energy deployments, as well as differences that exist among jurisdictions. Recommendations for improved outcomes for all MRE projects include: the need to collect baseline data before deployment, relying on existing data where available; early identification of likely risks that drive consenting, as well as gaps in data and analyses to understand those risks; a push to collaborate with researchers, communities, and other developers for optimal outcomes; and a plea for transparency in data accessibility to move the entire industry forward.
The 2024 State of the Science Report consists of 11 chapters which can be downloaded as a whole or individually. Download Chapter 2: Progress in Understanding Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy here.