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 | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Displacement
Potential displacement of essential activities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures. |
Fish
|
Design feature
Array/ mooring configuration designed to avoid migratory routes or other important sites. |
Minimizes risk of development creating displacement by avoiding migratory routes or other important sites. |
May be inconsistent with optimal layout of the development for exploitation of the energy source. Can be a costly measure when scaling up to larger arrays. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen) |
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Habitat Loss
Direct loss of protected or sensitive sub-littoral seabed communities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings or support structures on the seabed. |
Fish
Demersal fish |
Design feature
Site selection to avoid sensitive or protected sub-littoral seabed communities. |
Could reduce/remove effects on sensitive habitats. |
ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array | |
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Contamination
Potential for oil spill incident resulting from the influence of unfavourable weather conditions. |
Habitat
|
Mitigation
Vessel activities to occur in suitable weather conditions. |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment. |
MeyGen 2012, The Marine Institute 2016, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project , Galway Bay Test Site, Pelamis Wave Power P2 Demonstration at EMEC | |
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
Sediment disturbance disrupting water clarity that results in smothering of fish spawning grounds. |
Marine Mammals
|
Mitigation
Best practice methodologies to reduce resuspension of sediment during cable burial or device foundation/mooring installation. |
Craig 2008, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, OpenHydro Alderney, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site | ||
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Displacement
Potential displacement of essential activities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures. |
Marine Mammals
|
Mitigation
Timing of installation and decommissioning & marine operations to avoid times of particular sensitivity (e.g., breeding). |
Minimizes risk of development causing displacement by avoiding works during sensitive times. |
Can be disruptive and hence costly to developer. |
OpenHydro and SSE Renewables 2013, Aquatera Ltd 2011, Foubister 2005, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, SSE Renewables 2011, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, McGrath 2013, Orbital Marine Power 2014, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, THETIS Energy 2009, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, Brims Tidal Array, Wello Penguin at EMEC, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Westray South Tidal Project, Fair Head Tidal Array, Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site, Torr Head Project, Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array |
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Marine Mammals
seals |
Mitigation
Employ an MMO during periods when noisy operations are likely to cause disturbance (e.g., all operations using a DP vessel). |
SAE Renewables 2011, Orbital Marine Power 2010, Minesto 2016, Foubister 2005, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Xodus Group 2019, Magallanes Renovables 2020, MeyGen 2012, DP Energy Ltd. 2013, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, THETIS Energy 2009, Davison and Mallows 2005, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC, Pelamis Wave Power P2 Demonstration at EMEC, Minesto Holyhead Deep - Non-grid connected DG500, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project , West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site, Torr Head Project, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen) | ||
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. |
Reptiles
|
Mitigation
Source vessels locally. |
Reduce/remove risk of transfer and settlement of non-native species. |
Mocean Wave Energy Converter: Blue Horizon | |
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from landfall cables on sensitive species. |
Benthic
Benthic invertebrates |
Design feature
Limit cable voltage. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project | ||
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Decommissioning | Changes in sediment dynamics
Reduced visibility impacting prey detection and obstruction avoidance. |
Birds
|
Mitigation
Best practice methodologies to reduce resuspension of sediment during cable burial or device foundation/mooring installation. |
Foubister 2005, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2011, The Marine Institute 2016, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, PacWave South Test Site | ||
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Monitoring
Install tension sensors on mooring lines. |
Informs of problem with mooring lines allowing rectification. Cost per unit. |
Additional cost and control system integration requirement. Load from entangled animal is likely to be smaller than the device loading on the moorings. Uncertainty of the efficacy of this measure. |
Laminaria 2018, 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. |
Fish
|
Design feature
Design structures to minimise effect on turbulence structure. |
Minimizes change in turbulence structure and hence potential interaction. |
Can present financial, logistical, or design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device/moorings. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Ramsey Sound |
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Migratory fish |
Design feature
Bundle cables together to reduce field vectors. |
Reduce the level of EMF to surrounding water column and therefore any potential effects. |
Less redundancy in system. Potential commercial and technical feasibility issues. Greater costs associated with not laying direct cable paths. |
MeyGen 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project |
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Underwater noise
The potential effects from airborne noise from support vessel activity. |
Fish
|
Mitigation
Adherence to Scotish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC). |
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Xodus Group 2019, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2020, Aquatera 2017, Laminaria 2018, Orbital Marine Power 2018, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, EMEC Scapa Flow Scale Wave Test Site, Tocardo InToTidal at EMEC, Orbital Marine Power O2 at EMEC, Mocean Wave Energy Converter: Blue Horizon | ||
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Habitat Creation
The introduction of infrastructure and artificial substrates will provide habitat and artificial refuges. |
Habitat
|
Monitoring
Monitor near-field behaviours. |
Reduces scientific uncertainty around collision risk, displacement, and other impacts. Increased value/fecundity of commercially important species. |
Can be expensive and difficult to deliver in practice. May require additional licensing (e.g., echosounders). |
|
Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Marine Mammals
|
Mitigation
Install propeller guards. |
McGrath 2013, Fair Head Tidal Array | ||
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Entanglement
Potential for marine animals to become entangled in device mooring lines and cables. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans |
Mitigation
Install strain gauges on the device |
Alerts the opertaor in the event of an entanglement event. |
Magallanes Renovables 2020, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC | |
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. |
Reptiles
|
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 minimise interaction despite modelling to fully predict interaction |
|
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, 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, Orbital Marine Power O2 at EMEC |
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, Orbital Marine Power O2 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. |
Birds
|
Mitigation
Source vessels locally. |
Reduce/remove risk of transfer and settlement of non-native species. |
McPherson 2015, Nova Innovation - Shetland Tidal Array, Mocean Wave Energy Converter: Blue Horizon | |
Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Collision risk
Potential for collision with turbine blades. |
Birds
Diving birds |
Mitigation
Design proportion of swept area to structure area to minimise collision risk. |
Could reduce the likelihood/consequence of potential collision events. |
Can be a high cost associated with this. Can present financial, logistical, or design challenges to technology developer to alter design of device. |
|
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 |
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, Orbital Marine Power O2 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, Orbital Marine Power O2 at EMEC |
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 , Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Galway Bay Test Site, Torr Head Project | |
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 | 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 | Contamination
Potential for oil spill incident resulting from the influence of unfavourable weather conditions. |
Benthic
|
Mitigation
Vessel activities to occur in suitable weather conditions. |
Reduces the chance of oil spill to the environment. |
MeyGen 2012, Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, ScottishPower Renewables 2012, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project , Oyster 800 at EMEC, 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. |
Benthic
|
Compliance
Compliance with all relevant guidance (including IMO guidelines) regarding ballast water management and transfer of non-native species. |
Reduce/remove risk of transfer and settlement of non-native species. |
MeyGen 2012, McPherson 2015, OpenHydro and SSE Renewables 2013, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Xodus Group 2019, Magallanes Renovables 2020, Royal Haskoning and Sea Generation (Kyle Rhea) Ltd. 2013, SSE Renewables 2011, Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project , Nova Innovation - Shetland Tidal Array, Brims Tidal Array, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, EMEC Billia Croo Grid-Connected Wave Test Site, Magallanes Renovables ATIR at EMEC, Kyle Rhea Tidal Stream Array Project, Westray South Tidal Project, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL), PacWave South Test Site | |
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Contamination
Potential for oil/hydraulic spill incident resulting from the maintenance activities. |
Fish
|
Mitigation
All maintenance activities involving oil/hydraulic fluid treatments will be carried out on-shore. |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment. |
Foubister 2005, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site | |
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. |
Fish
|
Design feature
Array/mooring configuration designed to avoid migratory routes or other important sites |
Minimizes risk of development acting as a barrier to movement by avoiding migratory routes or other important sites. |
May be inconsistent with optimal layout of the development for exploitation of the energy source. Can be a costly measure when scaling up to larger arrays. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen) |
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | EMF
Impacts of electromagnetic fields from subsea cables on sensitive species. |
Fish
Migratory fish, elasmobranchs |
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. |
May have an impact on surrounding benthic habitats and sensitive species Creation of artificial habitat may cause aggregation effect causing greater impact of EMF. Increased cost to project. Reduced possibilities for decommissioning in future. |
Orbital Marine Power 2014, Foubister 2005, McGrath 2013, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2020, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Fair Head Tidal Array, PacWave South Test Site |
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Lighting
Potential for lighting to adversely affect nocturnal and migratory species. |
Fish
|
Design feature
Consider type, colour and use of lighting during design and consultation with navigational stakeholders. |
Could redcue impacts on sensitive species if they are known to use or migrate near to the project site. |
Navigational saftey need to be considered at all times and may take precedent over ecological needs. |
DP Energy Ltd. 2013, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2014, Tidal Lagoon Power 2017, West Islay Tidal Project Energy Park, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL) |
Wave, Tidal | Operation & Maintenance | Contamination
Potential for oil/hydraulic spill incident resulting from the maintenance activities. |
Habitat
|
Mitigation
All maintenance activities involving oil/hydraulic fluid treatments will be carried out on-shore. |
Reduces the chance for oil spill to the environment. |
Foubister 2005, EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal 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
Observational surveys (including remote sensing) of bird and marine mammals (prey availability linked to benthic community). |
Reduces scientific uncertainty. |
Statistical power of studies can be low. Can be difficult to distinguish between natural variation and direct effects of energy removal from the system. Monitoring may be expensive. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, GlaxoSmithKlineMontrose 2012, Orbital Marine Power 2014, Tidal Energy Ltd 2008, Xodus AURORA 2010, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, McGrath 2013, Xodus Group 2012, Orbital Marine Power 2018, Oyster 800 at EMEC, GSK Montrose Tidal Array, Ramsey Sound, HS1000 at EMEC, EMEC Shapinsay Sound Scale Tidal Test Site, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen), Fair Head Tidal Array, Orbital Marine Power O2 at EMEC |
Wave, Tidal | Installation, Operation & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Displacement
Potential displacement of essential activities due to the presence of devices and associated moorings/support structures. |
Marine Mammals
|
Design feature
Array/mooring configuration designed to avoid migratory routes or other important sites. |
Minimizes risk of development creating displacement by avoiding migratory routes or other important sites. |
May be inconsistent with optimal layout of the development for exploitation of the energy source. Can be a costly measure when scaling up to larger arrays. |
Aquamarine Power Ltd 2011, Davison and Mallows 2005, Oyster 800 at EMEC, Strangford Lough - MCT (SeaGen) |
Wave, Tidal | Decommissioning | Vessel disturbance
Potential for disturbance from project vessels. |
Marine Mammals
Cetaceans, seals |
Mitigation
Limit use of vessels, e.g. one vessel present with regular use of thrusters to maintain position. |
Reduces potential disturbance effects. |
Low 2012, MeyGen 2012, Atlantis Resources Corporation at EMEC, MeyGen Tidal Energy Project | |
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. |
Reptiles
|
Monitoring
Monitoring and reporting of MNNS. |
Reduces/removes risk of transfer of non-native species. |