NNMREC

November 4, 2010

Boundaries: Benthic and Coastal EnvironmentsRenewable Ocean Energy and the Marine Environment

Environmental Effects of Tidal EnergyOutcomes of a Scientific Workshop

Brian PolagyeUniversity of Washington

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

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Environmental Effects Workshop Structure Results Recommendations

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“Typical” Sites and Devices

2-4 m/s

20-60 m

Foundation

Drive TrainRotor

5-20 m 10-30 rpm

Gearbox-Generator

Direct Drive Generator

Pile Gravity Base

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Environmental Stressors

Device presence:Dynamic effects

Device presence:Static effects

Electromagnetic effects

Acoustic effects

Chemical effects

Energy removal

Cumulative Effects

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Environmental Receptors

Near-field environment

Far-field environment

Ecosystem Interactions

Benthic habitat

Pelagic habitat

Marine mammals

Fish (migratory and resident)

Seabirds

Invertebrates

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Environmental Effects Workshop Structure Results Recommendations

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Need for Workshop

Major interest in developing hydrokinetic energy in the U.S.

Environmental compatibility of technology stated without proof.

Environmental uncertainties present a major barrier to projects getting in the water at any scale.

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Session Chairs Discussion4 hours

Receptors2.5 hours

Stressors1.5 hours

Wrap Up1.5 hours

Plenary Sessions4 hours

Stressors2.5 hours

Workshop Structure

March 23

March 24

March 25

Participant Feedback: Another day would have been useful

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Geographic Scope

Coastal Maine

Puget Sound

Southeast Alaska

Cook InletAleutian Islands

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Workshop Participants

US West Coast (CA, OR, WA, AK)

US East Coast

Europe

Canada

Universities

Agencies/NGOs

Research Labs

Industry

Specific technical or scientific expertise Representative distribution of affiliation Interest greatly exceeded capacity

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Environmental Effects Workshop Structure Results Recommendations

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Physical Environment: Near-field

Physical Environment: Far-field

Habitat & Invertebrates

Fish: Migratory

Structure below water surfaceStructure above water surfaceDisturbance from installation of deviceDisturbance from installation of power cables

Presence of Devices – Static Effects

Color denotes significance

LowMediumHigh

Unknown

Not Applicable

?

Low

Medium

High

Unknown

Symbol denotes uncertainty

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Presence of Devices – Static Effects

Physical Environment: Near-field

Physical Environment: Far-field

Habitat & Invertebrates

Fish: Migratory

Structure below water surface

Structure above water surface

Disturbance from installation of device

Disturbance from installation of power cables

Pilot Scale

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Presence of Devices – Static Effects

Physical Environment: Near-field

Physical Environment: Far-field

Habitat & Invertebrates

Fish: Migratory

Structure below water surface

Structure above water surface

Disturbance from installation of device

Disturbance from installation of power cables

Commercial Scale

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Identification of Priority Interactions Selection Criteria

—High potential significance

—High uncertainty

Summarize Key Information—Description

—Gaps in Understanding

—Monitoring Approaches

—Mitigation Measures (stressor only)

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Environmental Effects Workshop Structure Results Recommendations

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Pilot Projects are Required

Recognized need by participants of all affiliation

Must be well-monitored

Prioritize objectives

Use common protocols

Courtesy of Marine Current Turbines

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Pilot Study Prioritization ExampleDevice presence: Static effects

Device presence: Dynamic effects

Chemical effects

Acoustic effects

Electromagnetic effects

Energy removal

Cumulative effects

Physical environment: Near-field

Physical environment:Far-field

Habitat

Invertebrates

Fish: Migratory

Fish: Resident

Marine mammals

Seabirds

Ecosystem interactions

Device presence: Static effects

Device presence: Dynamic effects

Chemical effects

Acoustic effects

Electromagnetic effects

Energy removal

Cumulative effects

Physical environment: Near-field

Physical environment:Far-field

Habitat

Invertebrates

Fish: Migratory

Fish: Resident

Marine mammals

Seabirds

Ecosystem interactions

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Mitigate Impacts when PossibleStressor Priority Area Recommended MitigationPresence of devices: static effects

Effects of static structure on benthic ecosystems

Minimize anchor sizes.Minimize number of moorings and slack lines.Streamline support structures.

Presence of devices: dynamic effects

Potential for direct interactions of marine species with turbine rotor

Increase visibility of rotors to fish.Acoustic avoidance measures.Shock absorbers on leading edges of blades.Temporary device shutdown.

Electromagnetic effects

Behavioral disruption from electric and magnetic fields

Bury power cables.Twist cores for AC cables.Run DC cables of opposing polarity in close proximity.

Cumulative effects

Effects on large, mobile species

Limit number of devices at a given location until effects of operation are sufficiently understood.

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Collaboration is Essential Information needs to be shared between

projects—IEA-OES Annex IV—Significant intellectual property concerns

Hydrokinetic industry needs to engage with the oceanographic community

—Leverage active areas of research

Expand opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration

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Workshop Report

Will be published as NOAA Tech Memo

Draft currently out for review

Details of breakout sections

Challenges indentified

Recommendations

http://depts.washington.edu/nnmrec/workshop

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Acknowledgements Workshop organizing committee

—Andrea Copping, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory—Keith Kirkendall, NOAA Fisheries—George Boehlert, Oregon State University—Michelle Wainstein, University of Washington—Sue Walker, NOAA Fisheries—Brie Van Cleve, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Workshop sponsors—NOAA Fisheries—US Department of Energy

Workshop participants, particularly session chairs and note takers