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Marine Energy

Simec Atlantis Tidal Turbine
The generation of renewable energy from tides, waves, currents, salinity, and temperature gradients in the oceans, seas, and rivers.

Marine renewable energy (MRE), also known as ocean energy or marine and hydrokinetic energy (MHK), refers to the various ways to generate electricity from the world’s oceans, seas, and rivers. Movement of water occurs naturally in these bodies of water in the form of waves, tides, and currents. Although many are in early stages of research and development, there is a wide variety of MRE technologies capable of generating electricity from the movement of water, as well as from differences in water temperature and salinity.

The relevant technologies can be classified into the following categories:

The environmental concerns associated with MRE technologies vary substantially based on the technology type, device design, and location. The primary environmental concerns typically encompass animal collisions with dynamic devices, impacts from underwater noise, and concerns about changes to the physical environment.

Please note: Tethys classifies offshore wind energy separately from MRE.

Photo: Simec Atlantis

Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Tethys is a knowledge hub that contains documents on the environmental effects of wind and marine energy. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Knowledge Base associated with Marine Energy.

Total: 3615

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Environmental and social impacts of tidal energy developments: A review Ayoub, M., Flannagan, M., Kindermann, G. Journal Article Marine Energy Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life IV Popper, A., Sisneros, J., Lepper, P. Book Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Dual-use wave energy converter arrays: Experimental insights into nearshore processes and coastal erosion Cohen, N., Flocard, F., Cui, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Strategic Research Agenda Greaves, D., Brennan, F., Brown, S. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Environment Impacts of Nearshore Marine Renewable Energy Chen, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Marine Renewable Energy Regulator Survey: Australia McGrath, J., Freeman, M., Gonsalves, J. Report Marine Energy
Life Cycle Environmental Impacts and Socio-Economic Implications of Tidal Electricity Generation and Storage in the UK Jeswani, H., Perdan, S., Azapagic, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data
A Co-Benefits Analytical Framework: Overlap in Protection for People and Ecosystems from Power-Generating Tidal Range Infrastructure Gray, I., Ascher, S., Staffell, I. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Human Dimensions
Entanglement risk of marine animals in the mooring lines of marine energy devices and oceanographic instruments Hemery, L., Copping, A., Jones, K. Report Marine Energy Entanglement Fish, Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles
The Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) United Nations (UN) Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy Human Dimensions
Achieving energy security in the Gulf of Guinea: harnessing ocean energy through regional cooperation Mukwele, S., Tambo, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy
Identifying materials in tidal energy technology and their effects to human health, ecosystems, and resources: A life cycle assessment perspective Rueda-Bayona, J., Franco, V., Eras, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Health & Safety
How can an ecosystem approach support integrated management of marine renewable energy? An initial assessment from an environmental point of view Le Marchand, M., Hemery, L., Araignous, E. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Integrating biodiversity conservation into renewable energy development under the European Green Deal: A comparative analysis of national policies in France, Italy and Spain Hajdukovic, I., Jessel, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Marine Renewable Energy Regulator Survey: Canada McGrath, J., Rose, D., Freeman, M. Report Marine Energy
Coastal response to wave energy converter arrays: A semi-analytical model for control of nearshore currents and beach morphology Cui, L., Sergiienko, N., Cohen, N. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Just Transition and Coastal Communities: Case studies of Orkney, North East Scotland and the Humber Estuary McCarron, A., Shapovalova, D., Potts, T. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Triton: Environmental Technologies for Marine Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Webpage Marine Energy
Development and application of an environmental risk register for marine energy device and project developers Freeman, M., Farr, H., Staines, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Human Dimensions
A coupled LES–aeroacoustic framework for predicting hydrodynamic noise from tidal-stream turbines Botero-Bolívar, L., Ouro, P., Ferrer, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
A Framework for Analysing and Improving Graduate Attributes and Employability in the Blue Economy Cossu, R., Adams, L., Pountney, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Progressing Tidal Energy Through Organized Data Approaches Copping, A., Hemery, L., Garavelli, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
International WaTERS: Summary of Findings and Lessons Learned Linklater, E., Mediavilla, D., Kemp, E. Report Marine Energy Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Life cycle assessment of wave energy: the Mutriku case study Lira, R., Güereca, L., Lekube, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Exploring Particle Motion Near a Wave Energy Converter Chicco, C., Ceraulo, M., Niosi, F. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Wave Noise Fish, Invertebrates
Sustainable maritime energy management: optimizing decision-making for marine fuels and renewable energy integration Alghassab, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Marine Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
Marine Spatial Planning-Based Siting Methodology for Co-Located Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Cullen, E., Fitzgerald, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation
Electromagnetic fields from submarine power cables: A 35 Year synthesis of effects on aquatic biota James, E., Ghodsi, M., Ford, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF Fish, Invertebrates
Environmental Policy and Risk Regulatory Framework for Sustainable Tidal Current Energy in China Guo, R., Liu, Z., Wei, H. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Offshore Environmental Monitoring with Platform-Mounted Sensors Szesciorka, A., Farr, H., Severy, M. Summary Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Offshore Energy and Environmental Research Ryu, S., Dempsey, L., Ampela, K. Summary Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions
IEA-OES Annual Report: An Overview of Ocean Energy Activities in 2025 Ocean Energy Systems (OES) Report Marine Energy Human Dimensions
Exploratory study on offshore aquaculture suitability and co-location with marine renewable energy in Portugal Costa, C., Miranda, F., Clemente, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Health & Safety, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation
Marine Renewable Energy Regulator Survey: Ireland McGrath, J., Rose, D. Report Marine Energy
Entanglement: A Low Risk for Marine Animals Around Marine Energy Devices Hemery, L., Copping, A., Jones, K. Summary Marine Energy Entanglement
Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC) 2025 Year in Review Twedt, J. Report Marine Energy Human Dimensions
A comprehensive review of floating renewable energy technologies Baig, M., Alsenani, T., Koondhar, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind
A review of biofouling characteristics and issues for offshore renewable energy industry Portas, A., Briand, J-F., Damblans, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
The Status of Marine Energy of Costa Rica: Challenges and Opportunities for Grid Integration Rojas-Morales, J., Vega-Sánchez, C., Guerrero-Fernández, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Marine Renewable Energy Regulator Survey: United States McGrath, J., Rose, D. Report Marine Energy

Displaying 1 - 40 of 3615 results