West Coast Of Ireland Research Articles

A mixed-method approach to study the impacts of energy micro-generation combined with appliance-level feedback on everyday practices

Energy feedback is recognized in energy literature as vital for altering and curbing energy usage. However, recent studies highlight the limitation of energy feedback, questioning its real capacity to promote energy-saving behaviours. Meanwhile, micro-generation, such as photovoltaic panels (PVs), is deemed more effective in reshaping daily practices by encouraging time-shifting of activities, as a way to reduce the load of energy consumed in the grid, while increasing the one from renewable resources. This study explores the impacts of appliance-level consumption feedback combined with micro-generation on everyday practices; it adopts a practice theoretical perspective, viewing households as practitioners rather than mere rational agents. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected between 2022 and 2023 in households with PVs on two islands located off the west coast of Ireland. Smart plugs were installed and connected to different home appliances to collect energy data and provide feedback on their energy usage through a webapp. Our analysis focuses on pre- and post- plugs’ installation and feedback delivery periods, to assess households’ responses both in relation to their practices and to PV usage. While appliance-level feedback showed potential in enhancing PV use and practice changes, heightened awareness does not guarantee change, and households’ responses to feedback depend on various influencing factors deeply embedded in everyday practices – including the (non) negotiability of practices, app design, household dynamics and previous experience with the PV system. Our findings suggest opportunities for energy research to develop more tailored strategies for cutting energy consumption, taking into consideration people’s practices.

Population History and Anthropometric Variation of West Coast Irish Islands.

Previous research using anthropometric data from the west coast of Ireland in the late 19th century showed that two island populations, the Aran Islands and Inishbofin, were phenotypically divergent from the mainland and more similar to England, a pattern consistent with historical evidence for English admixture. The present study extends these analyses by including data from two other island populations in the region that do not have a history of English admixture. Data were taken from published sources for six west coast Irish populations measured in the 1890s: two mainland groups (Connemara and Erris) and four island populations (the Aran Islands, Clare Island, Inishbofin, and the Inishkea Islands). The anthropometric data consist of 13 measures on 317 males. Mahalanobis distances among the six populations were derived as well as distances to a mean based on English anthropometric data. The two island populations with a history of likely English admixture following the garrisoning of English soldiers in previous centuries were the most divergent from the Irish mainland and most similar to the English mean. The other two island populations (Clare Island and the Inishkea Islands) did not have a history of English admixture and were most similar to the Irish mainland. The different patterns of anthropometric similarity among the four island populations show different population histories and support earlier studies suggesting differential English admixture as a factor in the population structure of the region.

Dynamics of Bubble Plumes Produced by Breaking Waves

Abstract Bubble plumes play a significant role in the air–sea interface by influencing processes such as air–sea gas exchange, aerosol production, modulation of oceanic carbon and nutrient cycles, and the vertical structure of the upper ocean. Using acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data collected off the west coast of Ireland, we investigate the dynamics of bubble plumes and their relationship with sea state variables. In particular, we describe the patterns of bubble plume vertical extension, duration, and periodicity. We establish a power-law relationship between the average bubble penetration depth and wind speed, consistent with previous findings. Additionally, the study reveals a significant association between whitecapping coverage and observed acoustic volume backscatter intensity, underscoring the role of wave breaking in bubble plume generation. The shape of the probability distribution of bubble plume depths reveals a transition toward stronger and more organized bubble entrainment events during higher wind speeds. Furthermore, we show that deeper bubble plumes are associated with turbulent Langmuir number Lat ∼ 0.3, highlighting the potential role of Langmuir circulation on the transport and deepening of bubble plumes. These results contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions between ocean waves, wind, and bubble plumes, providing valuable insights for improving predictive models and enhancing our understanding of air–sea interactions. Significance Statement This research contributes to understanding bubble plume dynamics in the upper ocean and their relationship with sea state variables. The establishment of a power-law relationship between the bubble penetration depth and wind speed, along with the association between whitecapping coverage and acoustic backscatter intensity, contributes to improved predictive capabilities for air–sea interactions and carbon dioxide exchange. The identification of the potential influence of Langmuir circulation on bubble plume dynamics expands our understanding of the role of coherent circulations in transporting bubble plumes. Additionally, this study presents a clear methodology using commercial sensors such as an ADCP, which can be easily replicated by researchers worldwide, leading to potential advancements in our comprehension of bubble plume dynamics.

A before after control impact experiment on a historically fished seagrass (Zostera marina) bed

AbstractSeagrasses are considered to be globally important for carbon sequestration and they provide a range of ecosystem services. However, they are also known to be vulnerable to various anthropogenic activities, not least bottom contacting fishing gears such as dredging and potting. We set out to test the effects of dredge fishing, in early spring and potting in late summer, in a historically fished but considered “pristine” seagrass meadow on the west coast of Ireland. We found that despite dredging and potting pressures, growth of seagrasses was driven by seasonal changes in light and temperature and that neither fishing activity had any effect on rhizome weight or shoot or blade densities during the growing season. We hypothesize that it is possible for fishing to co‐occur with seagrass if fishing activities are restricted to winter or early spring, before the main seagrass growing season, and/or if particular types of gear, such as the traditional gears described here are used. High levels of dredging and potting had positive increases in the count of both sessile and mobile epifauna suggesting that for mobile species at least, they may take advantage of post‐fishing scavenging opportunities.

Ocean Wave Directional Distribution from GPS Buoy Observations off the West Coast of Ireland: Assessment of a Wavelet-Based Method

Abstract Knowledge of the directional distribution of a wave field is crucial for a better understanding of complex air–sea interactions. However, the dynamic and unpredictable nature of ocean waves, combined with the limitations of existing measurement technologies and analysis techniques, makes it difficult to obtain precise directional information, leading to a poor understanding of this important quantity. This study investigates the potential use of a wavelet-based method applied to GPS buoy observations as an alternative approach to the conventional methods for estimating the directional distribution of ocean waves. The results indicate that the wavelet-based estimations are consistently good when compared to the framework of widely used parameterizations for the directional distribution. The wavelet-based method presents advantages in comparison with the conventional methods, including being purely data-driven and not requiring any assumptions about the shape of the distribution. In addition, it was found that the wave directional distribution is narrower at the spectral peak and broadens asymmetrically at higher and lower scales, particularly sharply for frequencies below the peak. The directional spreading appears to be independent of the wave age across the entire range of frequencies, implying that the angular width of the directional spectrum is primarily controlled by nonlinear wave–wave interactions rather than by wind forcing. These results support the use of the wavelet-based method as a practical alternative for the estimation of the wave directional distribution. In addition, this study highlights the need for continued innovation in the field of ocean wave measuring technologies and analysis techniques to improve our understanding of air–sea interactions. Significance Statement This study presents a wavelet-based technique for obtaining the directional distribution of ocean waves applied to GPS buoy. This method serves as an alternative to conventional methods and is relatively easy to implement, making it a practical option for researchers and engineers. The study was conducted in a highly energetic environment characterized by high wind speeds and large waves, providing a valuable dataset for understanding the dynamics of marine environment in extreme conditions. This research has implications for improving our understanding of directional characteristics of ocean waves, which is crucial for navigation, offshore engineering, weather forecasting, and coastal hazard mitigation. This study also highlights the challenges associated with understanding wave directionality and emphasizes a need for further observations.

Assessing the potential of acoustic telemetry to underpin the regional management of basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus)

Acoustic telemetry can provide valuable space-use data for a range of marine species. Yet the deployment of species-specific arrays over vast areas to gather data on highly migratory vertebrates poses formidable challenges, often rendering it impractical. To address this issue, we pioneered the use of acoustic telemetry on basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) to test the feasibility of using broadscale, multi-project acoustic receiver arrays to track the movements of this species of high conservation concern through the coastal waters of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Throughout 2021 and 2022, we tagged 35 basking sharks with acoustic transmitters off the west coast of Ireland; 27 of these were detected by 96 receiver stations throughout the study area (n = 9 arrays) with up to 216 detections of an individual shark (mean = 84, s.d. 65). On average, sharks spent ~ 1 day at each acoustic array, with discrete residency periods of up to nine days. Twenty-one sharks were detected at multiple arrays with evidence of inter-annual site fidelity, with the same individuals returning to the same locations in Ireland and Scotland over 2 years. Eight pairs of sharks were detected within 24 h of each other at consecutive arrays, suggesting some level of social coordination and synchronised movement. These findings demonstrate how multi-project acoustic telemetry can support international, cost-effective monitoring of basking sharks and other highly mobile species. Decision support tools such as these can consolidate cross-border management strategies, but to achieve this goal, collaborative efforts across jurisdictions are necessary to establish the required infrastructure and secure ongoing support.

IPB-MSA&SO4: a daily 0.25° resolution dataset of in situ-produced biogenic methanesulfonic acid and sulfate over the North Atlantic during 1998–2022 based on machine learning

Abstract. Accurate long-term marine-derived biogenic sulfur aerosol concentrations at high spatial and temporal resolutions are critical for a wide range of studies, including climatology, trend analysis, and model evaluation; this information is also imperative for the accurate investigation of the contribution of marine-derived biogenic sulfur aerosol concentrations to the aerosol burden, for the elucidation of their radiative impacts, and to provide boundary conditions for regional models. By applying machine learning algorithms, we constructed the first publicly available daily gridded dataset of in situ-produced biogenic methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO4=) concentrations covering the North Atlantic. The dataset is of high spatial resolution (0.25° × 0.25°) and spans 25 years (1998–2022), far exceeding what observations alone could achieve both spatially and temporally. The machine learning models were generated by combining in situ observations of sulfur aerosol data from Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, located on the west coast of Ireland, and from the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) cruises in the northwestern Atlantic with the constructed sea-to-air dimethylsulfide flux (FDMS) and ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis datasets. To determine the optimal method for regression, we employed five machine learning model types: support vector machines, decision tree, regression ensemble, Gaussian process regression, and artificial neural networks. A comparison of the mean absolute error (MAE), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2) revealed that Gaussian process regression (GPR) was the most effective algorithm, outperforming the other models with respect to simulating the biogenic MSA and nss-SO4= concentrations. For predicting daily MSA (nss-SO4=), GPR displayed the highest R2 value of 0.86 (0.72) and the lowest MAE of 0.014 (0.10) µg m−3. GPR partial dependence analysis suggests that the relationships between predictors and MSA and nss-SO4= concentrations are complex rather than linear. Using the GPR algorithm, we produced a high-resolution daily dataset of in situ-produced biogenic MSA and nss-SO4= sea-level concentrations over the North Atlantic, which we named “In-situ Produced Biogenic Methanesulfonic Acid and Sulfate over the North Atlantic” (IPB-MSA&SO4). The obtained IPB-MSA&SO4 data allowed us to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of MSA and nss-SO4= as well as the ratio between them (MSA:nss-SO4=). A comparison with the existing Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service ECMWF Atmospheric Composition Reanalysis 4 (CAMS-EAC4) reanalysis suggested that our high-resolution dataset reproduces the spatial and temporal patterns of the biogenic sulfur aerosol concentration with high accuracy and has high consistency with independent measurements in the Atlantic Ocean. IPB-MSA&SO4 is publicly available at https://doi.org/10.17632/j8bzd5dvpx.1 (Mansour et al., 2023b).

Revisiting Brian Friel’s Translations through the lens of stage director Caitríona McLaughlin

ABSTRACT Brian Friel’s play Translations (1980), set in a 19th-century hedge school on the west coast of Ireland, chronicles the beginning of the decline of the Irish language. Since its premiere in Derry with the Field Day Company, it has become a classic of Irish theatre, one of the most performed plays on Irish stages, and one of Friel’s most popular plays abroad. Surprisingly, however, it had never been performed in Belfast’s best-loved playhouse, the Lyric Theatre, and had never been staged by a female director in Friel’s own country. This play by the Lyric Theatre Belfast and the Abbey Theatre Dublin is pioneering as the first co-production between these two major companies, the first time a woman, Caitriona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, has directed Translations in Ireland, and the first time a woman has held this position at the Abbey in the last 30 years. Through observations of the play premiered at the Lyric in April 2022 and of criticism in the media, and drawing on ideas that McLaughlin developed in an interview granted to me in September 2022, I will analyse the ways in which her proposal subverts received interpretations of this modern classic.

The use of predator tags to explain reversal movement patterns in Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar L.).

Acoustic telemetry has seen a rapid increase in utility and sophistication in recent years and is now used extensively to assess the behavior and survival rates of many aquatic animals, including the Atlantic salmon. As part of the salmon's complex life cycle, salmon smolts are thought to make a unidirectional migration from fresh water to the sea, which is initiated by changes in their physiology. However, some tag movement patterns do not conform with this and can be difficult to explain, particularly if the tagged fish has been eaten by a predator. This study combines the use of predator tags with machine learning techniques to understand the fate of migrating salmon smolts and thereby improve estimates for migration success. Over 3 years between 2020 and 2022, 217 salmon smolts (including wild and hatchery-reared ranched fish) were acoustically tagged and released into an embayment on the west coast of Ireland. Some tagged smolts were observed to return from the estuary back into a saline lagoon through which they had already migrated. To distinguish between the movement of a salmon smolt and that of a predator, predator tags were deployed in migrating smolts in 2021 and 2022. The addition of a temperature sensor in 2022 enabled the determination of predator type causing the returning movement. A significant number of predator tags were triggered, and the patterns of movement associated with these triggered tags were then used with two types of machine learning algorithms (hierarchical cluster analysis and random forest) to identify and validate the behavior of smolts tagged without extra sensors. Both models produced the same outputs, grouping smolts tagged with predator tags with smolts tagged without the additional sensors but showing similar movements. A mammalian predator was identified as the cause of most reversal movement, and hatchery-reared ranched smolts were found to be more likely predated upon by this predator than wild smolts within the lake and the estuary. However, overall migration success estimates were similar for both wild and hatchery-reared ranched fish. This study highlights the value of predator tags as an essential tool in the overall validation of detection data.

An advanced geospatial assessment of the Levelised cost of energy (LCOE) for wave farms in Irish and western UK waters

With the climate crisis becoming an ever-growing concern, Europe is striving to reduce its energy related greenhouse gas emissions. On the western edge of this continent, wave energy is a logical future clean energy consideration for Ireland and the U.K. to help realise ambitious targets recently being set in policy. Yet to reach commercialisation, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the financial feasibility of wave farms in the region of interest, and where exactly the most feasible locations are likely to be. The Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) is the most commonly used metric in determining the financial feasibility of an energy project, and it is very much site dependant when it comes to wave energy, varying considerably from one location to the next. This study uses the geographic approach to address this and estimate the LCOE of wave energy farms in the region, considering different technology types and the geospatially variable inputs at play. The results reveal areas of high project feasibility in the Atlantic Ocean (off the west coast of Ireland), the Celtic Sea and the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland (ISWCS), with LCOE values below 110€/MWh along the coasts of these areas.

Assessment of Ocean Circulation Characteristics off the West Coast of Ireland Using HF Radar

Research on coastal ocean circulation patterns over long time periods is significant for various marine endeavors: environmental protection, coastal engineering construction, and marine renewable energy extraction. Based on sea surface current data remotely observed using a shore-based high frequency radar (HFR) system for one year (2016), spatiotemporal characteristics of surface flow fields of sea surface flow fields along the west coast of Ireland are studied using harmonic analysis, rotary spectral analysis and representative flow fields over different seasons and the whole year. Coastal surface currents in the study area are strongly affected by tidal dynamics of the M2 constituent, showing significant characteristics of regular semidiurnal tide, such as M2 and S2. The energy spectrum distribution indicates that the tidal constituents M2 and S2 are the dominant periodic energy constituents in a counterclockwise spectrum, which mainly presents rotating flow; the representative diurnal tidal constituents is the constituent K1, and its energy spectrum distribution is mainly clockwise. A comparison between probable maximum current velocity (PMCV) and measured maximum current velocity (MMCV) is presented. It shows that although tidal current characteristics in the study area are significant, the main driving force of the currents at the time of the maximum currents is wind energy. These results provide new insights into a region of huge societal potential at early stages of sustainable economic exploitation where few data currently exist.

Deciphering extreme rainfall and historical floods at Easkey on the west coast of Ireland

AbstractA written account of two flood events in 1844 and 1877 at Easkey in Co. Sligo on the west coast of Ireland is explored with several meteorological datasets and historical newspaper accounts. Gridded daily precipitation fields for Ireland for the late twentieth century are analysed to assess rainfall extremes and most probable month of the annual maximum. Historic rainfall datasets are analysed to corroborate the account of the floods. A lot of rainfall data have survived from the nineteenth century, but there is still an imperfect match between the written account and the old weather records.

Efficacy of microplastic depuration on two commercial oyster species from the west coast of Ireland

AbstractStudies investigating microplastics (MPs) in marine species have been published over recent decades, including studies on depuration efficacy on aquaculture products. This preliminary study investigates the depuration efficacy of MPs in two commercial oyster species from Ireland. The innovative aspects are the sampling size (n = 50 per species) and the experiment duration (up to 96 h). The case study organisms are the Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas) and the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis). Prior to depuration, the mean MP concentration on M. gigas edible tissue was 0.6 MP g−1 while for O. edulis was 0.4 MP g−1. Significant differences in mean MP concentrations were identified after 96‐h for M. gigas 0.2 MP g−1 (p = 0.014) and O. edulis, 0.1 MP g−1 (p = 0.003). Additionally, no significant correlation was established between MP concentrations and edible tissue weight. Polymer identification revealed that 51.6% were fibers of natural origin. Preliminary results show that increasing depuration times beyond 72‐h can significantly reduce MPs in selected oyster species, which is what is being recommended with this baseline study. Further investigation on commercial conditions at adequate depuration facilities is required. Given the relevance of low‐trophic aquaculture species for local economies, this preliminary study provides important baseline information for stakeholders.

Protecting coastal infrastructure in the face of increasing climate related pressures: A cost-benefit analysis of maintaining a tidal kayaking feature in Ireland

Climate change, the rising of sea levels and extreme weather conditions that can result in exceptional high tides and storm surges are threatening vulnerable coastal infrastructure. In this study, we investigate the recreational value of a tidal kayaking feature situated on the west coast of Ireland that is threatened in such a manner. A lock gate and sea wall, that separate the open sea from a natural sea lagoon, forms a standing wave at this kayaking site. The structure, built in the 1800s is currently in need of urgent maintenance works and the lagoon also needs dredging. By means of a travel cost model, the study derives the recreational use value of the site while a cost-benefit analysis estimates the net present value of carrying out repair works at the feature. We estimated that the consumer surplus is approximately €49,000 per year and the recreational benefits are more than three times the costs of restoring the site. The paper argues that cost-benefit analysis will be particularly important to justify funding the protection of small-scale coastal infrastructure where the benefit values to society are mainly non-market.

Visitor demographics, site‐type and activities determine the occurrence and severity of environmental impacts at nature‐based tourist destinations

Abstract Increasing demand for access to nature has the potential to increase environmental impacts. Identifying links between increased visitor intensity and habitat damage in context‐specific studies is an oversimplification which does not account for visitor demographics or activity characteristics. We compared the prevalence of tourism‐related threats/pressures across protected areas in Europe, Ireland, and in sites close to the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) tourism route along the west coast of Ireland. To better understand the drivers of tourism‐related impacts, we analysed impact occurrence (IO) and impact severity (IS) at 43 sites along the WAW using a database of over 6000 visitor movement, demographic and behaviour records gathered by a national tourism agency (Fáilte Ireland). Threats/pressures related to tourism and recreation are prevalent and widespread across protected sites in Europe (49% of sites) with significantly higher (p < 0.001) prevalence of these threats in protected sites in Ireland (58% of sites). Over 33% of protected sites in Ireland are located within 2 km of a WAW Discovery Point and 64% of these WAW adjacent sites have known threats/pressures related to recreation and/or tourism, which is significantly higher than Irish and European averages (p < 0.001). Visitors to WAW sites ranged mostly within 1 km of tourist destinations (99%) and over 75% of all visitors had no observable impact on the receiving environment. Site‐type, tourist demographics and tourist activities were informative predictors of IO. IS was influenced by total number of impacts, activity intensity and site‐type. Site‐type together with visitor activity occurrence and activity intensity were significant for IO and IS, highlighting the importance of understanding local conditions as well as visitor characteristics for impact avoidance/mitigation. Tourism‐related pressures and threats are widespread among protected sites in Europe and Ireland. We demonstrate the need to shift the focus from analysing discrete ecological responses in response to generalized tourism pressure to understanding the causes of impacts to mitigate them at source. This will help align tourism and conservation goals.

Operations and maintenance optimisation for a 100 MW wave energy farm in Ireland

Marine operations that are required for the development and service of offshore wave energy farms represent a significant proportion of the total project costs. These operations can be optimised through design and innovation to improve the LCOE of the project. This paper presents an analysis of marine operations in offshore renewable energy projects and ows the importance of early, detailed analysis and optimisation of these activities. The analysis uses general-purpose techno-economic analysis software developed by Wave Venture. The software provides an integrated engineering and financial simulation specifically designed for the needs of offshore renewable energy technology. A 100 MW wave energy farm, made up of 250 CorPower devices, off the west coast of Ireland is defined and analysed to demonstrate the capabilities of the techno-economic analysis incorporating a marine operations logistics model. The results demonstrate the strength of integrated logistics and finance software in the analysis and design of wave farms, and how these simulations can lead to significant improvements in the LCOE of offshore renewable energy projects.

Assessment of the environmental drivers of European glass eel (Anguilla anguilla) recruitment in transitional waters

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has undergone an unprecedented population decline since the 1980s, with current recruitment levels fluctuating from 3 to 15% of historical levels for the last 20 years. Monitoring of glass eels and elvers as 0 + recruitment is an essential step in helping to understand the trend in recruitment and to better quantify the current recruitment time series. Two locations within the Shannon estuary on the west coast of Ireland were monitored for glass eel recruitment from January to April in 2017 and 2018. This study used a generalised linear mixed model to examine a range of environmental variables impacting on glass eel abundance in transitional waters. Results found that water temperature and moon phase were the most important variables. Tidal height and cloud cover also influenced the abundance of glass eels but to a lesser extent. This study found that focussing survey efforts on nights around the full moon when water temperatures exceed 5℃ will allow a catch which is representative of the population in an estuary. Glass eel monitoring needs a long-term sampling plan in order to account for annual fluctuations apparent in glass eel recruitment.

Phytoplankton Impact on Marine Cloud Microphysical Properties Over the Northeast Atlantic Ocean.

The current understanding of the impact of natural cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) variability on cloud properties in marine air is low, thus contributing to climate prediction uncertainty. By analyzing cloud remote sensing observations (2009–2015) at Mace Head (west coast of Ireland), we show the oceanic biota impact on the microphysical properties of stratiform clouds over the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. During spring to summer (seasons of enhanced oceanic biological activity), clouds typically host a higher number of smaller droplets resulting from increased aerosol number concentration in the CCN relevant‐size range. The induced increase in cloud droplet number concentration (+100%) and decrease in their radius (−14%) are comparable in magnitude to that generated by the advection of anthropogenically influenced air masses over the background marine boundary layer. Cloud water content and albedo respond to marine CCN perturbations with positive adjustments, making clouds brighter as the number of droplets increases. Cloud susceptibility to marine aerosols overlaps with a large variability of cloud macrophysical and optical properties primarily affected by the meteorological conditions. The above findings suggest the existence of a potential feedback mechanism between marine biota and the marine cloud‐climate system.

Impacts of climate change on coastal archaeological sites in County Kerry, Ireland

This paper deals with the effects of climate change on coastal heritage sites located on the south west coast of Ireland. The three case studies discussed below are National Monument sites in State care. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for their day-to-day maintenance and conservation. The sites used as case studies are Dunbeg Promontory Fort, Skellig Michael and Ballinskelligs Priory. Climate change has been affecting these sites and causing damage to their historic fabric. The OPW has taken mitigating measures to reduce the impact of climate change on these sites and protect their architectural, archaeological and natural features.

A holistic methodology for hydrokinetic energy site selection

Hydrokinetic energy can contribute to diversify and decarbonise the energy mix in many coastal regions, in particular estuaries. These are typically areas of high environmental value and with intense socioeconomic activity. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive methodology for selecting the optimum locations for hydrokinetic energy exploitation, by considering all the relevant aspects which affect the decision-making process, and improve the current available procedures. The methodology is centred around a novel holistic index, the Integrated Hydrokinetic Energy (IHE) index, which considers: (i) the exploitable resource, (ii) the costs of installation, and (iii) the socioeconomic and environmental aspects. The approach is illustrated through a case study in the Shannon Estuary, on the west coast of Ireland. It is shown that the application of this methodology facilitates the planning and reduces the uncertainties in the development of a hydrokinetic farm project.