A Review of Modeling Approaches for Understanding and Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy

Kate E Buenau,Lysel Garavelli,Lenaïg G Hemery,Gabriel García Medina

doi:10.3390/jmse10010094

Kate E Buenau, Lysel Garavelli + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10010094

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Abstract

Understanding the environmental effects of marine energy (ME) devices is fundamental for their sustainable development and efficient regulation. However, measuring effects is difficult given the limited number of operational devices currently deployed. Numerical modeling is a powerful tool for estimating environmental effects and quantifying risks. It is most effective when informed by empirical data and coordinated with the development and implementation of monitoring protocols. We reviewed modeling techniques and information needs for six environmental stressor–receptor interactions related to ME: changes in oceanographic systems, underwater noise, electromagnetic fields (EMFs), changes in habitat, collision risk, and displacement of marine animals. This review considers the effects of tidal, wave, and ocean current energy converters. We summarized the availability and maturity of models for each stressor–receptor interaction and provide examples involving ME devices when available and analogous examples otherwise. Models for oceanographic systems and underwater noise were widely available and sometimes applied to ME, but need validation in real-world settings. Many methods are available for modeling habitat change and displacement of marine animals, but few examples related to ME exist. Models of collision risk and species response to EMFs are still in stages of theory development and need more observational data, particularly about species behavior near devices, to be effective. We conclude by synthesizing model status, commonalities between models, and overlapping monitoring needs that can be exploited to develop a coordinated and efficient set of protocols for predicting and monitoring the environmental effects of ME.

Highlights

The use of marine energy (ME) from tides, waves, or ocean currents as a sustainable source of power generation is of broad international interest, but the magnitudes of potential benefits and risks remain only partially understood [1,2,3]
Theoretical resource characterization and modeling focused on the effects of the environment on device mechanics, power generation, and array design are beyond the scope of this review
Because several studies apply the same models in similar ways, this section does not represent an exhaustive list of the published modeling studies, but it includes references to more detailed reviews when available

Summary

Introduction

The use of marine energy (ME) from tides, waves, or ocean currents as a sustainable source of power generation is of broad international interest, but the magnitudes of potential benefits and risks remain only partially understood [1,2,3]. ME devices (stressors) may interact with and affect elements of the environment and/or ecosystem (receptors) during their installation, presence, or operation [4]. Receptors of interest are marine animals, habitats, and ecosystem processes. The species or habitats of primary concern are those with special conservation and/or commercial status, triggering more scrutiny from a legislative or regulatory standpoint [2]. ME development requires an assessment of environmental effects, but accurate measurement of stressor–receptor interactions is difficult because of the limited number of operating devices available to observe. Monitoring of ME devices has not always resulted in useful information [2,5,6]

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