Short Science Summary: Benefits and Effects

Orcas

Marine Renewable Energy: Benefits and Effects

Technologies that harvest energy from the movement of water in oceans and large rivers are under development around the world. Marine renewable energy (MRE) devices are designed to take advantage of tidal currents, fast flowing rivers, and waves, as well as ocean currents and natural gradients of temperature and salinity in ocean waters. The potential benefits that MRE can bring to nations and stakeholders are driving research studies, development of engineering systems, and experimental deployments of wave energy converters, as well as tidal and river turbines, in coastal areas. These studies, trials, and experiments are the leading edge of the development of an international MRE industry that is adding to the renewable energy portfolio of many nations. As this development occurs, it is essential that MRE projects not harm valuable and often fragile marine populations, habitats, and systems in the oceans. The responsible development of the MRE industry is informed by science-based understanding of the potential effects of MRE installations worldwide.

This Short Science Summary was developed based on the OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World, specifically Chapter 1: Marine Renewable Energy and Ocean Energy Systems and Chapter 2: Marine Renewable Energy: Environmental Effects and Monitoring Strategies. 

The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Field Experiments on the Attraction of Pelagic Fish to Floating Objects Hunter, J., Mitchell, C. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Development Under U.S. and International Law and Institutions Nanda, V. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Assessment and Control of OTEC Physical Environmental Impacts Ditmars, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Physical Environment
Assessment and Control of OTEC Ecological Impacts Wilde, P., Sandusky, J., Jassby, A. Report OTEC, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Chemicals Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions
Ten Years of Experience at the La Rance Tidal Power Plant Andre, H. Journal Article Tidal, Marine Energy
Environmental Impact Assessment for Operational OTEC Platforms Sands, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC): Social and environmental issues Lavi, A., Lavi, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals Physical Environment, Water Quality
The Potential Environmental Consequences of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Plants Walsh, J. Workshop Article Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Water Quality
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Final Environmental Impact Statement National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Report Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: Environmental Effects Assessment Program Plan, 1981-85 NOAA Office of Ocean Minerals and Energy Report OTEC, Marine Energy
Waterborne Noise Due to Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plants Janota, C., Thompson, D. Journal Article OTEC, Marine Energy Noise
Tropical Island Applications for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Ford, J., Toms, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Human Dimensions
Assessing the Environmental Impact of the Annapolis Tidal Power Project Tidmarsh, W. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Physical Environment, Fish
Fundy Tidal Power Development: Preliminary Evaluation of Its Environmental Consequences to the Resources of the State of Maine Larsen, P., Topinka, J., Lerman, A., Giese, G., Anderson, F., Rudolph, R., Timson, B. Report Marine Energy, Tidal
Update on the Marine Environmental Consequences of Tidal Power Development in the Upper Reaches of the Bay of Fundy Gordon, D., Dadswell, M. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Physical Environment
Frequency characteristics of skate electroreceptive central neurons responding to electrical and magnetic stimulation Andrianov, Y., Broun, G., Il'inskii, O., Muraveiko, V. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy EMF Fish, Demersal Fish
The Annapolis Tidal Power Project Head Pond Water Levels - Impacts and Mitigations Rice, R. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Changes in Flow Physical Environment
Potential Impacts from OTEC-Generated Underwater Sounds Rucker, J., Friedl, W. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Noise
Scientific Issues in the Assessment of the Transboundary Effects of Fundy Tidal Power Spiller, J. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Tidal
Potential Environmental Impacts of Open-Cycle Thermal Energy Conversion Quinby-Hunt, M., Wilde, P., Dengler, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC
The Potential Impact of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) on Fisheries Myers, E., Hoss, D., Matsumoto, W., Peters, D., Seki, M., Uchida, R., Ditmars, J., Paddock, R. Report OTEC, Marine Energy Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Potential Impact of Large-Scale Tidal Power Developments in the Upper Bay of Fundy on Fisheries Resources of the Northwest Atlantic Dadswell, M., Rulifson, R., Daborn, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
The 40 MWe OTEC Plant at Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii: A Case Study of Potential Biological Impacts Harrison, J. Report Marine Energy, OTEC
Evaluation on Geomorphological Conditions of Site of the BaiShakou Tidal Power Station Liu, Z., Wang, Y. , Han, S. , Xia, D. , Xu, X. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Potential Environmental Impacts of Closed-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Quinby-Hunt, M., Sloan, D., Wilde, P. Journal Article OTEC, Marine Energy Chemicals, Changes in Flow
Stimulation of Microbial Activities and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation in Marine Sediments Inhabited by Capitella capitata Bauer, J. , Kerr, R. , Bautista, M., Decker, C., Capone, D. Journal Article Marine Energy
Effects of cold shock on egg, larval, and juvenile stages of tropical fishes: Potential impacts of ocean thermal energy conversion Lamadrid-Rose, Y., Boehlert, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Fish, Pelagic Fish
Sharkbite on the SL submarine lightwave cable system: history, causes and resolution Marra, L. Journal Article Marine Energy EMF Fish
Wave Energy Technology Assessment Hagerman, G., Heller, T. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Wave Human Dimensions
A Review of Studies Related to the Effects of Propeller-Type Turbine Passage on Fish Early Life Stages Cada, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Riverine Collision Fish
The infauna and epifauna of the northern North Sea Basford, D., Eleftheriou, A., Raffaelli, D. Journal Article Marine Energy
Duration of lactation and postweaning changes in mass and body composition of harbor seal, Phoca vitulina , pups Muelbert, M., Bowen, W. Journal Article Marine Energy Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Highly directional swimming by scalloped hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna lewini, and subsurface irradiance, temperature, bathymetry, and geomagnetic field Klimley, A. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Avoidance, EMF Fish
Ocean Energies: Environmental, Economic and Technological Aspects of Alternative Power Sources Charlier, R., Justus, J. Book Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy
The Direction Change Concept for Reticulospinal Control of Goldfish Escape Foreman, M., Eaton, R. Journal Article Marine Energy Fish
Renewable Energy From the Ocean: A Guide to OTEC Avery, W., Wu, C. Book OTEC, Marine Energy
Macrotidal Estuaries: A Region of Collision Between Migratory Marine Animals and Tidal Power Development Dadswell, M., Rulifson, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals
Intertidal Ecology and Potential Power Impacts, Bay of Fundy, Canada Gordon, D. Jr. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Tidal Power and the Aquatic Environment of La Rance Retiere, C. Journal Article Tidal, Marine Energy Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes
An assessment of research and development leadership in ocean energy technologies Bruch, V. Report Marine Energy Human Dimensions
Displaying 1 - 40 of 2973 results