Marine Energy

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: 3543

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
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
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
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
Exploring Particle Motion Near a Wave Energy Converter Chicco, C., Ceraulo, M., Niosi, F. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Wave Noise Fish, Invertebrates
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 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
Beyond yes and no: Clustering public perceptions of wave energy on the West Coast of the United States Stelmach, G., Boudet, H. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
Potential of Edu-Ecotourism Based on OTEC Utilizing Indonesian Post-Operation Offshore Oil/Gas Facilities Muzhaffar, F.A., Mukhatasor, Satrio, D. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Human Dimensions, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data
Marine renewables may just be what Canada needs. Right now. And in the future. Marine Renewables Canada Report Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Evaluating the Risk of Collision of Seals Swimming Within Metres of Operating Tidal Turbines Montabaranom, J., Gillespie, D., Sparling, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Marine Renewable Energy Sector Vision 2050 Marine Renewables Canada Report Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
2025 UK Ocean Energy Review Grattan, K., Olsson, S., Noble, D. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
R&D programs for wave energy in Spain: A contingent valuation application with multiple bounded uncertainty Cerda, E., López-Otero, X., Quiroga, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Disruptive Innovation and Industrial Modernisation: Pathways to Securing Offshore Renewable Energy Supply Chain Competitiveness Grattan, K., Olsson, S., Noble, D. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Ocean renewable energy for equitable energy access in a Blue Economy Cisneros-Montemayor, A., Hirsch, S., Dillon, T. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
PNNL-TUNAMELT: Toward automating the detection of interactions with marine energy devices using acoustic camera sensors Nowak, T., Staines, G., Abdullai, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal
Observations of marine animal interactions with a small tidal turbine Cotter, E., Bassett, C., Murphy, P. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Avoidance, Collision Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Geospatial analysis of the life cycle global warming impacts from marine renewables Engelfried, T., Alday, M., Raghavan, V. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Effects of electromagnetic fields on flatfish activity levels Chapman, E., Rochas, C., Burns, Z. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF Fish, Demersal Fish
Renewable Energy Deployments at Sea: Innovative Pathways and Challenges for Marine Renewable Energy in the Global Transition Xicotencatl-Pérez, J., Ruiz-Vanoye, J., Díaz-Parra, O. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Wind Energy Human Dimensions
Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Annual Report 2025 Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) Report Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Marine Renewable Energy Regulator Survey: United Kingdom McGrath, J., Freeman, M. Report Marine Energy
Passive Acoustic Monitoring of a Riverine Turbine with Stationary Hydrophones Cotter, E., Haxel, J., McVey, J. Report Marine Energy, Riverine Noise
Lifecycle analysis of marine renewable energy infrastructures: Sustainable futures Tamoor, M., Zhang, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
All tide up: addressing the regulatory and environmental barriers affecting tidal energy development in British Columbia Kelsey, A. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, EMF, Noise Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Life Cycle Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Systems: A Literature Review for Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Floating Modular Energy Islands (FMEIs) Bas, B., Gervásio, H., Borg, R.P. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
How to Measure the Social Impact of Renewable Energy Communities? Cipriano, M., Virili, F., Za, S. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Environmental DNA (eDNA) for Monitoring Fish at Marine Energy Project Sites Hemery, L., Pereira, L. Summary Marine Energy
Finding common ground: Assessing the Co-location potential of California's blue food and clean energy sectors Gonzales, C., Wu, G., Froehlich, H. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Displaying 1 - 40 of 3543 results