The risk of collision between marine fauna and tidal turbines remains a primary regulatory and societal concern surrounding the development of tidal energy. Optical cameras and active acoustic sensors (imaging sonars) can provide a detailed view of the area surrounding a turbine, but it is often difficult to determine whether an actual collision occurred or distinguish between collisions and near-misses. Through the Integrated Collision Detection and Mitigation Project (ICDM), Triton researchers investigate the use of blade-integrated strain gauges, which have previously been used to monitor blade health, to detect collision events. In Cotter’s presentation, “Laboratory Testing of Blade-Integrated Collision Monitoring,” she discussed the results of recent laboratory experiments, the scalability of this approach to the field, and the potential to integrate sensors into turbine blades that help control turbine operations and reduce the impact from collisions for both the animal and the turbine.
Cotter presents on the Integrated Collision Detection and Mitigation Project at the Environmental Reactions of Marine Energy Renewables Conference held inin Kirkwall, Scotland. (Photo by Lenaig Hemery | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Cotter also co-led a workshop titled “Applying Lessons Learned to Next-Generation Collision Monitoring Around Tidal Arrays” with Brian Polagye from the University of Washington, Carol Sparling from SMRU Consulting, and Fraser Johnson from SAE Renewables. Environmental monitoring of tidal turbines to date has focused on the collection of data from single turbine deployments. As the industry works to have many devices for each installation in the coming years, there is a need to determine most effective monitoring practices for arrays, and a need to consider how data collected around single devices can be used to predict possible effects on the array-scale. The workshop facilitated open discussions surrounding environmental monitoring requirements for tidal turbine arrays and had participants work through a relevant case study. This workshop was well attended and provided a valuable opportunity to engage a diverse stakeholder community and apply current knowledge for future scenarios as the marine energy industry grows.
News
Why You Might Love a Career in Marine Energy
Triton ocean engineer, Molly Grear, was one of five marine energy career panelists to share about what she loves about her work. (Photo from Mark Stone | University of Washington)
In February, staff across various research disciplines, including Triton ocean engineer Molly Grear, discussed their ocean energy careers, backgrounds, education, career paths, and current projects in a marine energy careers panel. Careers represented in the panel included modelers, technicians, engineering interns, ecologists, and more. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently released a story about the career panel and the featured panelists shared about how they found careers in marine energy and what they love about their jobs. Check it out.
Happy Earth Day!
Graphic from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2024 Earth Day poster titled “Water Touches Everything.” (Graphic by NASA)
April 22nd was Earth Day! Marine energy is one of many clean energy solutions that will help support a healthier, more sustainable Earth in the future. Triton celebrates the Earth every day by helping reduce permitting barriers to marine energy deployments through research and development of environmental monitoring technologies.
For Earth Day, NASA celebrated our blue planet through a virtual, public event that shared how researchers study the ocean from space to measure complex changes in the ocean across days, months, seasons, and years. Check it out.
2022–2023 WPTO Accomplishments Report
In case you missed it: last month, the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) released its 2022–2023 Accomplishments Report. The report highlights WPTO’s work with partners across the Nation to advance hydropower and marine energy. This work can help water power meet its full potential to contribute to the Nation’s clean energy transition. PNNL’s Triton Initiative is among the more than 40 projects featured. Check out Triton’s feature.
Triton is designed to support the development and testing of more precise and cost-effective environmental monitoring technologies for marine energy. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leads Triton on behalf of the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office.
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