Triton studies how marine animals sense sound and the potential effects of underwater noise related to marine energy systems and offshore technologies. Underwater sound is characterized by two components: acoustic particle motion and pressure waves. Previous research on acoustic impacts has largely focused on sound pressure. Triton’s Acoustic Particle Motion project is studying how fish and invertebrates respond to acoustic particle motion and substrate vibration to broaden scientists’ understanding of acoustic effects from marine energy noise emissions. Our team developed an animation to explain this important research topic. Check out the animation!
Testing marine mammal collision simulations in turbulent conditions using silicone models. (Photos by Molly Grear | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
In June, Triton researchers Molly Grear and Abby Snortland kicked off their next round of laboratory testing for the Blade Integrated Collision Detection (BICD) project in the University of Washington Harris Hydraulics Lab Flume. They used blue silicone models—or surrogates—to simulate animal collisions with cross-flow turbines in the flume. During this experiment, they tested parts of their setup, particularly how their animal surrogates swim, so they can make improvements ahead of a larger testing campaign.
The surrogates are currently scaled to represent animals the size of marine mammals. While marine mammal collisions with tidal turbines is an unlikely occurrence, it is still very important to understand the severity of turbine impacts to help inform stakeholders and facilitate regulatory approval for device deployments.
Molly and Abby, as well as other BICD team members, Emma Cotter and Linnea Weicht, are trying to answer the question: is there any way we can use sensors integrated into turbines to detect an animal collision or possibly reduce the severity of animal interactions? They have already determined that they can detect collisions, but this round of testing will help them find out how more turbulence and realistic water flow conditions impact those detections. Stay tuned!
Triton Story: Abby Snortland
Abby Snortland conducting her PhD research at the Harris Hydraulics Laboratory at the University of Washington. (Photo courtesy of Abby Snortland)
In a new Triton Stories series, we are highlighting Triton staff members who are making waves in marine energy science and engineering. Our first story features Abby Snortland, a postdoctoral research associate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory who is bringing her expertise in fluid mechanics to Triton by supporting the Blade Integrated Collision Detection (BICD) project. To learn more about Abby’s career path and her work with Triton, read her story here.
News
Marine Energy Careers Panel
Are you interested in being part of the future of marine energy? PNNL’s Triton Initiative and OES-Environmental teams, in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories invite you to join an informational Marine Energy Career Panel featuring Department of Energy National Laboratory staff working to advance the marine energy industry. The panel will be held on September 17th from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. PST on Zoom.
Staff across various research disciplines will discuss their marine energy careers (past, present, and future), including their background, education, career path, and current projects. In addition, topics including mentorship, networking, and interpersonal communication skills will be addressed to extend advice to students who are preparing to graduate and enter into internship experiences or the marine energy workforce. This webinar is aimed at current students and those interested in working in the marine energy industry. Register for the webinar here.
About the Triton Panel on Environmental Technology Readiness for Marine Energy
Looking back on the outcomes from a 2013 workshop organized by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Washington’s Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center, “Instrumentation for Monitoring around Marine Renewable Energy Converters”, the panel members will share information and discuss:
Progress made in technology and methods development for marine energy environmental monitoring over the last decade, and
Examples of technologies deployed around marine energy converters.
Following an overview of successes in the past decade, a facilitated discussion will aim to address the current state of readiness to collect consistent, standardized data that promotes transferability and provide information needed to fill knowledge gaps. The forward-looking conversation will seek to identify priorities for removing additional barriers to marine energy deployments and testing.
Planning on attending OREC and want to connect with Triton at the conference? Let us know at TritonMRE@pnnl.gov.
OES-Environmental Workshop on Environmental Effects of Off-Grid Marine Energy
Most research and monitoring for marine energy devices has sought to understand effects that will drive permitting and licensing decisions for large (utility-scale) devices. However, we know that many near-term and likely long-term uses of marine energy will be to power remote coastal and island communities and to provide power at sea for offshore aquaculture, ocean observations and navigation markers, and other off-grid uses.
A workshop, led by OES-Environmental will provide some background on off-grid uses, and will focus on interactive sessions that examine and discuss environmental effects of off-grid marine energy applications via several use cases.
OES-Environmental Releases Marine Energy Educational Resources and Guide
OES-Environmental recently added a new guideto its Marine Renewable Energy Educational Resources page on Tethys, which hosts resources to increase awareness and understanding of marine renewable energy and associated environmental effects and support the future workforce.
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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