FEATURE SPONSOR
SITE SELECTION & PLANNING
YEAR 1 ECOLOGICAL STUDIES COMPLETE
Plymouth and Exeter universities have
completed the first set of ecological studies as part of the EU Horizon 2020 funded CEFOW (Clean Energy from Ocean Waves) project
The research was carried out at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)’s grid-connected wave energy test site where Wello Oy’s Penguin wave energy converter has been operating since installation in March 2017.
PROJECT DETAIL As part of the CEFOW project, the ecological surveys will take place over three consecutive summers to investigate the cumulative impact of multiple wave energy converters (WECs) on the seabed habitat and associated ecosystem.
Monitoring involves the use of non- destructive towed underwater video systems (TUVS) and baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS)
to analyse species and habitats on and around the seabed, close to the Penguin device, as well as at control sites to the north and south of the WEC.
The multi-year dataset will assist with understanding the degree of natural spatial and temporal variation of marine organisms at EMEC’s test site. The studies will also provide information to marine energy stakeholders of any positive and negative effects so that they can be optimised and/or mitigated as wave energy technologies develop.
EARLY INDICATIONS
Initial observations indicate the presence of a variety of species,
Dr Emma Sheehan, Dr Luke Holmes & Amy Cartwright
(Credit Plymouh Uni)
including cod, plaice and octopus and both sand and rock habitat types. No conclusions regarding the impact of the devices can be made until the end of the project once all data has been collected, analysed and a robust, comparative study can be completed.
Emma Sheehan, of Plymouth University commented: “The data analysis will take place continuously throughout the course of the CEFOW project, with further ecological studies taken place throughout the summer months of 2018/19, following deployment of the second and third WEC’s due to be deployed as part of the CEFOW wave energy array.
“As wave energy is still in the R&D phase of development, it is important to monitor the impact of wave energy convertor on the local ecosystem including the abundance of commercially important fish; habitat building biogenic reef species and water filtering shellfish. By conducting the studies over multiple years, we can build up a robust picture of the test site and any impact that wave energy deployments may have.”
EMEC
Towed underwater video array Image: Matthew Witt
www.wavetidalenergynetwork.co.uk 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49
