Highlights of renewable energy studies and research in the bureau of ocean energy management, regulation and enforcement

Abstract

Renewable energy in the U.S. remains a frontier industry on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This new activity in the marine environment requires an assessment of the potential environmental impacts to resources on the OCS and evaluation of technical issues related to proposed activities. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has two distinct programs to conduct studies and research related to renewable energy: the Environmental Studies Program (ESP) and the Technology Assessment and Research Program (TA&R). Through ESP, BOEMRE collects a wide range of environmental information offshore the United States for environmental assessment. These studies are designed to provide an improved understanding of the ecosystem, a baseline for assessing cumulative effects, and the scientific basis for development of regulatory measures to mitigate adverse impacts. Each year, BOEMRE's ESP funds roughly $35M of research in a broad spectrum of biological, social and physical disciplines. Current environmental issues of importance for offshore renewable energy include noise, lighting, habitat disruption, collision, discharges, electromagnetic fields (EMF), space-use conflicts, effects on social systems and visual impacts. Environmental studies related to renewable energy are available online at: http://www.boemre.gov/eppd/sciences/esp/RenewableEnergyRese arch.htm. The BOEMRE TA&R Program funds research associated with operational safety, engineering standards and pollution prevention. The TA&R Program was established in the 1970s to ensure that industry operations on the OCS incorporate the use of the Best Available and Safest Technologies (BAST). In order to set design standards for renewable energy facilities, the TA&R Program is investigating seabed topography, bathymetry, sediment types and meteorological and oceanographic conditions. It is envisioned that wave, current and floating wind turbines and other untested technologies will be presented in the near future that will require establishing minimally acceptable design standards for permitting their deployment. Through the TA&R Program, BOEMRE is collaborating with research institutions and industry on testing renewable energy systems at Ohmsett, the National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility. Ohmsett provides a facility for testing, research and development of large to full-scale equipment for ocean wave and current technologies. Ohmsett has 18 years experience working with customers on research projects that include testing concepts for new products not yet in production and innovative studies for technologies to include wave modeling, remote microwave wind vector sensing and mast wake characteristics with waves and calm surface. The TA&R studies related to renewable energy are available online at: http://www.boemre.gov/tarprojectcategories/RenewableEnergy.h tm. We present highlights of issues for study and research under both ESP and TA&R and results from a recently completed study on the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) from transmission lines on elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and other marine species. This study modeled the EMF of subsea power cables to determine potential exposure and proposes several mitigation measures to reduce the size and magnitude of these fields. The study also provides a literature review of sensitive marine species which may use EMF to assist with navigation, orientation, prey location, predator detection or communication, and provides information as to their sensitivity for various levels of EMF.