OES-Environmental distributes metadata forms (questionnaires) to solicit information from researchers around the world who are exploring the environmental effects of marine renewable energy. This page provides a description and contact information related to the research. Content is updated on an annual basis.

Tidal GES - A transition to affordable and clean energy that can achieve ‘Good Environmental Status’ in coastal and marine waters

Status

In Progress

Principle Investigator Contact Information

Name:  Dr. Anne Marie Power

Address: School of Natural Sciences / Zoology, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Ireland

Email: annemarie.power@universityofgalway.ie  

Description

The Tidal GES project is focusing on solutions to secure transition to affordable and clean energy that also enhances the health and resilience of communities, wildlife and environment. It brings together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and a wide variety of stakeholders to address both technical and non-technical aspects of tidal energy deployment. This includes an economic appraisal of tidal energy and the investigation of societal attitudes towards it. It also considers local communities and stakeholder engagement with tidal energy developers, local authorities and local communities of potential commercial tidal energy sites and how they can work together to decarbonise the local economy, while also working together to deliver improved habitat and landscape conservation management. Another strand of the work focuses on developing systems to quantify the interactions of tidal energy devices with wildlife. The project consists of five work packages. WP 1 looks at the impact of climate change on tidal energy sites. WP 2 involves development of a monitoring system for wildlife in the vicinity of tidal energy devices. WP 3 looks at public engagement in tidal energy and conservation management and socioeconomic assessment of potential tidal energy sites. WP 4 is an assessment of the structural life of the tidal turbine blades. 

WP 2 is the most relevant to OES-Environmental. Dr Anne Marie Power is the WP 2 Leader. The original plan for work package will suggest a monitoring approach for wildlife in the vicinity of tidal energy devices (TEDs). The work was planned around a TED which was to be installed in Thomond Pier in Limerick. Due to delays in the installation, this work was not possible and may not be completed.

Funding Source

University of Galway

Funding Contact

Michael Flanagan
michael.flanagan@universityofgalway.ie  

Location of Research

The researchers are based in the university of Galway. Currently field research is planned for Thomond Pier Limerick, and it is likely that there will also be research around Strangford Lough, in Northern Ireland. It is also envisaged that research will take place at other sites, around Ireland, yet to be determined. 

Project Aims

The overall project aims are:

  1. Use global ocean data and high-resolution coastal models to better understand the potential impacts of climate change on tidal energy resources and the implications of any such impacts for the design and performance of tidal energy devices (TEDs). 
  2. Develop a monitoring approach for wildlife in the vicinity of tidal energy devices and assess the impact of TEDs on benthic species. Sub objectives, include:
    • Suggest a monitoring approach for pelagic species on the vicinity of tidal energy devices.
    • Examine the impacts of tidal energy devices on migratory fish.
  3. Capture the socio-economic impact of tidal energy developments on key stakeholders and provide an effective structure for enhancing participation by key stakeholders (including local communities and marine users), improving their influence on decisions, whilst reducing potential for conflict.
  4. Develop a new methodology for predicting remaining fatigue life and residual strength of tidal turbine blades.

Study Progress

To date work in WP2 has focused on mapping overlap in zoned tidal sites and wildlife. The work has taken data from a wide range of sources and mapped it using QGIS. 

Key Findings

The mapping exercise has shown that there is an overlap between the areas where there is a large tidal energy resource and the sitings of marine life. The mapping also allows this to be broken down based on particular species and geographic location.

Related Publications