Abstract
As the marine renewable energy (MRE) industry moves forward around the world, there continues to be concerns about potential environmental effects of devices and systems on marine animals, habitats, and ecosystem processes. Much of this perceived risk may be due to the large uncertainties about how tidal and wave devices might interact with the environment, and how marine mammals and other species may behave around single devices or arrays of energy converters. This makes the regulatory and consenting process for permitting MRE developments challenging, especially as permitting processes are not well established for wave and tidal developments. Additionally, other marine uses also create concerns for marine species. This, coupled with insufficient knowledge of ocean environments in high energy areas, creates caution during permitting and consenting processes for MRE devices.
This cautious approach to permitting and consenting process may hinder the ability of the MRE industry to advance their technologies to the same degree as other, lower cost renewable energy sources. To better understand views on risks, conflicts, and challenges associated with potential environmental effects of MRE devices, United States regulators (both federal regulators and those from coastal states) who may be involved in permitting MRE devices were engaged. Following an online webinar on Environmental Effects of Permitting MRE Developments where the state of the science of environmental effects was discussed, an online survey was developed to further understand needs and challenges faced when permitting an MRE development. An invitation to participate in the survey was sent out to the regulators who were invited to the webinar. The survey aimed to understand the familiarity of regulators with MRE technologies, perceptions of environmental challenges, and thoughts on best approach to MRE development and data transferability. The survey also included some questions to gather Tethys user data.