Understanding How Marine Renewable Device Operations Influence Fine Scale Habitat Use and Behaviour of Marine Vertebrates (RESPONSE)

Lead Research Organisation: Loughborough University
Department Name: Wolfson Sch of Mech, Elec & Manufac Eng

Abstract

See main project proposal ref M1409107

Planned Impact

See main project proposal ref M1409107
 
Description Experimental design and determination of device noise characteristics of tidal energy system in particular the interaction of marine mammals and renewable energy systems and how acoustics may influence how they behave and any potential impacts.
Exploitation Route Experimental procedures should lead to key information to aid impact assessment for wave and tidal development projects
Sectors Energy,Environment
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/11064/pdf/
 
Description Outcomes from this project have been extended to include novel technology developments with wide ranging applications in the marine sector and beyond. For example measurement methodologies using arial drone based technology (UAV's) for underwater acoustic assessment have been developed. This includes to now three funded PhD's on the 'flying hydrophone' concept, the development of a marine drone based research group (3 funded PhD's) and two further funded projects on marine mammal interactions related to acoustic deterrent devices and marine tidal turbines.
First Year Of Impact 2018
Sector Energy,Environment
Impact Types Societal,Policy & public services
 
Description Development of guidance notes for regulators for underwater monitoring at wave and Tidal Energy Site
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL http://www.nerc.ac.uk/innovation/activities/infrastructure/offshore/underwater-acoustic-monitoring-g...
 
Description Good practice guide: underwater noise measurment
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact This guidance document has been cited in the development of a number of international standards documents for performing underwater noise assessment particularly of marine energy system. The aim was to improve best practice both for regulators and industry practitioners by reducing the risk of uncertainty in the environmental impact assessment process for offshore projects and related economic impacts. No quantitive evaluation of direct impact is possible at this time.
URL http://www.npl.co.uk/content/ConPublication/6112
 
Description Knowledge Transfer Program (KTP)
Amount £140,505 (GBP)
Funding ID 9039-508742 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2013 
End 07/2015
 
Description Measuring ADD Noise in Tidal Streams (MANTIS)
Amount £349,108 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/R014132/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2018 
End 07/2020
 
Description Collaborative partnership with SAMS 
Organisation Scottish Association For Marine Science
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Ongoing partnership in the area of joint project development and delivery in the area of impact assessment of Marine Energy Systems. Multiple joint project since this one and serval journal research outputs.
Collaborator Contribution Ongoing partnership in the area of joint project development and delivery in the area of impact assessment of Marine Energy Systems. Multiple joint project since this one and serval journal research outputs.
Impact Conference Paper: Good noise, bad noise: a tricky case of balancing risk of physical injury against acoustic disturbance for marine mammals & tidal energy devices. Ben Wilson, Brett Marmo, Paul Lepper, Denise Risch, Steven Benjamins , Gordon Hastie and Caroline Carter- May 2017The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 141(5):3921-3921 DOI10.1121/1.4988861Conference: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (multidisciplinary - physical sciences, marine biology, oceanography, physical acoustics and numerical modelling). Journal Paper van der Molen, J, Smith, HCM, Lepper, P, Limpenny, S, Rees, J (2014) Predicting the large-scale consequences of offshore wind turbine array development on a North Sea ecosystem, Continental Shelf Research, 85, pp.60-72, ISSN: 0278-4343. DOI: 10.1016/j.csr.2014.05.018. Joint project NERC: Measuring ADD Noise in Tidal Streams (MANTIS) (2017) NE/R014132/1 Joint Project Research Forum (SARF): Impact of ADD on marine wildlife (2015)
Start Year 2012
 
Description Collaborative partnership with SMRU (University of St Andrews) 
Organisation University of St Andrews
Department Sea Mammal Research Unit
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of joint publications and proposal development
Collaborator Contribution Development of joint publications and proposal development
Impact Hastie, G, Russell, JF, Lepper, PA, Elliott, J, Wilson, B, Banjamins, S, Thompson, D (Accepted for publication 2017) Harbour seals avoid tidal turbine noise: implications for collision risk, Journal of Applied Ecology, ISSN: 0021-8901. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12981.
Start Year 2017
 
Description EMEC 
Organisation European Marine Energy Centre, Orkney
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaborative on going analysis of tidal stream data obtained from drift trials and seabed hydrophone.
Collaborator Contribution Data acquisition and data management of underwater recordings from tidal energy sites
Impact Joint publications in preparation in the field of underwater noise from tidal stream devices. Ongoing research proposal development.
Start Year 2015
 
Description National Physical Laboratory (NPL) 
Organisation National Physical Laboratory
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution In partnership we have jointly developed proposal and won and delivered on multiple industry funded project. We have jointly organised conferences and co-chaired meeting and have jointly published multiple reports and papers including industry wide best practice guides. We have provided expertise in underwater acoustic measurement, equipment development, signal processing, numerical modelling - software development.
Collaborator Contribution In partnership we have jointly developed proposal and won and delivered on multiple industry funded project. We have jointly organised conferences and co-chaired meeting and have jointly published multiple reports and papers including industry wide best practice guides. NPL have provided acoustics expertise in measurement and experimentation, calibration facilities, signal processing numerical modelling expertises as well as access to trial site facilities.
Impact Underwater Noise Measurement: Best Practice guide
Start Year 2019
 
Description University of Warwick 
Organisation University of Warwick
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Direct collaboration as project partners under EP/R007756/1 Modelling, Optimisation and Design of Conversion for Offshore Renewable Energy (UK-China MOD-CORE) project as funded project partners
Collaborator Contribution Research coordinator with Chinese partners
Impact Visit summer 2018 with Chinese project partners to establish work flows in collaboration. Outputs planning and visits.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Acoustic detection of harbour porpoises 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited talk to Swedish regulators and marine industry in Stockholm on methodologies to acoustically tracking harbour porpoises in view of understanding potential anthropogenic impacts.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019