Growth in marine renewable energy (MRE) generation is critical to meeting CO2 reduction targets. Uncertainties about potential impacts of marine renewables on marine mammals have posed a key consenting risk for the MRE industry around the world.
To support balancing MRE developments with the protection of marine mammal populations, the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) developed an independent research programme on marine mammal biology and developed new methods to monitor marine mammals around MRE developments.
The research has allowed governments in the UK, the Netherlands, and the U.S. to critically assess the potential impacts of offshore wind farm and tidal developments and has enabled the development of strategic plans for the MRE Industry. It has underpinned the Environmental Impact Assessments of 16 (64%) UK MRE projects and, by removing the need to collect equivalent data at each of the projects individually, the research has saved the UK MRE industry approximately GBP4,800,000. Further, methods developed as part of the research have been essential for progressing the tidal energy industry by providing tidal developers with the tools to track marine mammals around their operational tidal turbines to meet their post-consent monitoring conditions.
MRE industries are undergoing rapid growth, enabled by SMRU research informing and de-risking projects. This has provided economic benefit to the UK offshore renewable energy industry and is helping the UK to maintain its lead in this industry. For example, the research has enabled consent in 76% of offshore wind energy capacity in the UK, representing energy generation with a GVA amount of approximately GBP31,000,000,000.