WP2: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS RESULTS AND OUTCOMES

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2 WP2: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS RESULTS AND OUTCOMES

3 WP Objectives Investigate the best locations for different tidal energy systems with regards to: Energy extraction potential Environmental effects

4 WP Rationale Energy production: need to know where the best (and most cost-effective) locations for energy production are Environment: legislation dictates need to look at environmental impacts EU: Increased protection of estuarine and marine habitats (e.g. Natura 2000 sites) EU: EIA, Habitats, Birds directives Regional requirements and legislation

5 Actions Bringing people together Environmental Aspects Group, master class (2014) and workshop (2015) Desk studies: Potential environmental impacts of Grevelingen & Dover Harbour projects Field studies: Testing fish friendliness of turbine prototypes at Grevelingen Field study of different systems in relation to impacts in Sea Scheldt Optimising site locations at Wimereux, IoW, Dover, and Sea Scheldt Environmental impact assessment of Dover and IoW sites

6 Getting people together: Masterclass delegates from industry, academia & local government Focus: EIA & monitoring Protocols & strategies Comparison across countries Recommendations to partners: Engage with regulators & stakeholders early on & throughout EIA & monitoring protocols should 1) acknowledge wider scale/regional view of requirements, then 2) focus on site specifics Protocols for adaptive management of EIA and monitoring are key

7 Getting people together: Monthly EAG Newsletter A recommended action from the 2014 Masterclass Shares current industry and academic news, events, and research Available online at Last issue to follow this conference!

8 Pro-Tide WP2 Highlights: Tidal Site Characterisation Demonstrated a new technique for assessing tidal current velocities using HF radar (Fromveur Strait) To quantify spatial and temporal variability of tidal flow at different depths Application: Developing a solution for array configuration and optimizing the power production by tidal power convertors in this area Fromveur Strait

9 Pro-Tide WP2 Highlights: Tidal Site Characterisation Towed ADCP survey: Yarmouth Harbour Very strong ebb tide: ~3 m/s Highest velocity in SW area, where depth increases to 50 m Closer to shore in 25 m depth: favourable area for scaled device testing (~1.5 m/s) Yarmouth Harbour

10 Pro-Tide WP2 Highlights: Fish Friendliness testing Dutch guideline for fish mortality: 0.1% of passage Developed a protocol for testing Blade strike modelling Model validation in scaled test rig

11 Pro-Tide WP2 Highlights: Project Design Envelope approach to EIA Rapidly changing technology & ongoing research leads to challenges in defining project boundaries for EIA Project Design Envelopes can be useful, but can also cause consenting problems: Setting envelop is a challenge: too narrow? or too wide? Can place a heavy demand on regulators

12 Pro-Tide WP2 Highlights: Project Design Envelope approach to EIA At PTEC, demonstrated a device neutral approach to EIA via project design envelope To accommodate a wide range of technology types and sizes (based on developer consultation) Built-in flexibility to adapt to future changes # and layout of devices, device types, foundations, location of electrical hubs, # cables, navigation

13 Pro-Tide WP2 Highlights: Project Design Envelope approach to EIA EIA conducted on basis of flexible parameters: Up to 60 devices (max. 30 surface piercing) Device capacity 100kW - 6MW Aggregated max. capacity of 30 MW Maximum development area 5 km 2 Min 3, max 6 berths, 1-10 MW capacity 6 export cables These parameters fed through other elements of EIA (e.g. birds, fish, benthic, navigation) Status: Environmental consent yet to be determined

14 Back together again: WP2 EAG Workshop delegates: developers, consultants, researchers Goals: address uncertainties and risk factors related to consenting Make recommendations for good practise and collaborative projects to take forward following Pro-Tide project end

15 EAG Workshop outcomes and recommendations There is a need to communicate the scale of environmental effects from tidal projects relative to other anthropogenic impacts Consenting requirements should be proportionate to this level of change Robust, comprehensive monitoring plans are important, but cost, time, and equipment needs are prohibitive Could public funding help? Wider, regional scale monitoring plans? Better guidance on important indicators?

16 EAG Workshop outcomes and recommendations Improve engagement between developers, regulators, and researchers, especially across borders Incentivise cross-disciplinary / international collaborations focus on common targets and/or objectives for mutual benefit

17 Conclusion Overall, have we achieved our aims? Investigate the best locations for different tidal energy systems with regards to: Energy extraction potential Environmental effects Next steps: Build on success incorporate WP2 outcomes into existing projects Take recommendations forward for future projects (Pro-Tide II?)

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