Tidal stream energy: identifying marine mammal collision risk

Supporting consenting requirements for the UK tidal energy sector

Tidal stream technology, the process of harnessing the power of ocean tidal currents, presents a promising option to support the clean energy transition.

While the technology is reaching the point of commercial-scale deployment, sector growth has been hindered by concerns on the negative impacts tidal stream devices may have on marine fauna, including the risk of collision, disturbance caused by underwater noise, avoidance and displacement. These concerns have contributed to long consenting timelines, and the need for costly long-term data collection to fill evidence gaps and understand these impacts.

To assess the impacts of tidal stream energy devices on marine species, The Crown Estate and ABPmer collaborated on a report providing an overview of environmental monitoring data collected to date on pre-construction, operational, or decommissioned tidal stream energy projects.

The data and evidence summarised in the report primarily explores the issue of collision risk for marine mammals, which remains a significant barrier to tidal stream consenting and a key concern for regulators.

The report draws insight from monitoring, and how monitoring conclusions can inform future tidal stream energy developments in the UK. A primary objective was to assess monitoring methods used at tidal stream sites, with particular focus on impact monitoring techniques, to better understand the evidence base relating to collision risk and possible displacement.

By providing clarity on the advantages and limitations of tidal stream technology monitoring techniques, the report’s ultimate aim was to support the tidal stream energy consenting process.

Using The Crown Estate’s Marine Data Exchange (for which ABPmer undertakes data handling tasks essential to its effective management and use) and third-party peer reviewed journals, the report summarises monitoring data for five tidal energy sites in the UK.

Since publication, the Collision Risk report has informed the latest information resource from The Crown Estate and ABPmer, a framework and matrix to support the smarter use of existing data in tidal stream energy projects.

Download the full report, “Tidal Stream Energy Project, Collision Risk Data and Evidence Summary”

Explore the Tidal Stream Transferability Framework and Matrix

ABPmer’s data and GIS specialists are experienced marine data handlers, developing bespoke GIS mapping and data management tools for governing bodies, the public sector and marine and coastal operators.