Tethys Stories feature information on news, events, research, and projects relevant to wind and marine renewable energy development activities across the globe. Stories are contributed from individuals working in the field, and provide insight into advancing the energy industry in an environmentally responsible manner. If you are interested in providing content to be featured as a Tethys Story, please email tethys@pnnl.gov.
- The 2020 State of the Science Report was released on 8 June 2020 by Ocean Energy Systems (OES)-Environmental, supported by the International Energy Agency, and dedicated to examining the environmental effects of marine renewable energy (MRE) development. The 300-page report is the most comprehensive international analysis to date on the issue, based on studies and monitoring from publicly… Read More
- The emerging marine renewable energy (MRE) industry faces many challenges including uncertainty around potential environmental pressures and impacts. This industry is also known as ocean energy, with most early developments being wave and tidal energy generation. MRE stands as one of the main pillars of the European Union (EU) Blue Growth strategy which notes the need for studies, research, and… Read More
- Global renewable energy usage is on a steep upward trajectory, much of which is being driven by wind and solar. However, because of the variability of these sources, renewables are best implemented across as a diverse combination of resources and geography as possible. Therefore, utilizing a new renewable resource that is completely uncorrelated with wind and solar is clearly of benefit. Wave… Read More
- The Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) is Canada’s leading center for research and demonstration of in-stream tidal energy technologies. Located in the Bay of Fundy in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, FORCE has been collecting environmental and site characterization data for almost ten years. Based on this experience, FORCE has a role to play in supporting informed, evidence-… Read More
- A small nonprofit based in Portland, Ore. is helping to place the Pacific Region of the United States – comprised of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii – on the map as a vibrant destination for ocean renewable energy research and development. Available offshore wind, wave, and tidal resources offer significant opportunity for states in the Pacific Region to meet their renewable… Read More
- The number of fatal bird collisions at wind turbines is rarely studied in relation to the number of birds observed crossing an area. The reason might be that the acquisition of such data is time consuming, costly, and not trivial. The analysis and interpretation of radar data is especially difficult. Furthermore, there are a variety of radar systems and not all systems are technically suitable to… Read More
- Jim Strittholt, Conservation Biology Institute (US) In order to effectively combat climate change, rapid transition to renewable energy is essential and new economic opportunities are rapidly emerging. The recent progress towards renewable energy is encouraging, but care must be taken to avoid unintended negative consequences on wildlife and existing human uses whether these new developments are… Read More
- James H. Miller and Gopu R. Potty - Department of Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island Y. T. Lin and Arthur E. Newhall - Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Kathy Vigness Raposa, Adam Frankel, and Jennifer Giard - Marine Acoustics, Inc Tim Mason - Subacoustech, Ltd. Block Island Wind Farm, a 30MW farm with 5 turbines situated off the coast of Rhode… Read More
- As the marine renewable energy (MRE) industry advances and devices are deployed, there is a need to understand potential environmental effect of introducing structures to marine waters and potentially attracting marine organisms. These structures may act as artificial reefs, underwater human-made structures that function similar to a natural reef, and can include oil and gas platforms, sunken… Read More
- At the University of Rhode Island in the United States, a study of electromagnetic field (EMF) impacts on elasmobranchs and lobsters is currently being conducted. The contract is led by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the study aims to assess impacts of direct current (DC) cables on marine organisms. The study was prompted by the potential for the “Atlantic Wind Connection” venture, a… Read More
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