Plymouth and Exeter universities have completed the first set of ecological studies as part of the EU Horizon 2020 funded Clean Energy from Ocean Waves (CEFOW) 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.
Initial observations indicate the presence of a variety of species, including cod, plaice and octopus, and both sand and rock habitat types, according to EMEC.
EMEC also said that no conclusions regarding the impact of the devices can be made until the end of the project once all data has been collected, analyzed and a robust, comparative study can be completed.
Emma Sheehan from the University of Plymouth said: “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 wave energy converter (WEC) – 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.”
As part of the CEFOW project, the ecological surveys will take place over three consecutive summers to investigate the cumulative impact of multiple 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 analyze 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 is expected to 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 optimized and/or mitigated as wave energy technologies develop.
CEFOW is a five-year research project coordinated by Fortum whose mission is to develop the use of Wello’s Penguin wave energy converter in electrical-grid-connected ocean conditions.