The exploitation of wave energy is a potential renewable energy resource that can contribute to a sustainable future. However, this will require environmental impact studies.

Wave energy devices will be installed in marine environment that is by nature sensitive and contain an important biological diversity. However, there exist very few environmental impact studies in this area, mainly in Portugal.  Therefore it is important to evaluate what interaction may occur, whether positive or negative, between devices and its environment. Socio-economic issues must be taken into account in this study, particularly regarding new job opportunities and the effect of the introduction of this technology on the local community.

WavEC’s projects

The WavEC participated in the European Wavetrain project receiving researchers that has been trained specifically in this area, since there were no training courses available. Diverse information available was collected and analyzed.  Since then the WavEC has been active in disseminating this area, having collaborated with Spok ApS in the organization of a shortcourse focused on Environmental Aspects of Wave Energy, in Copenhagen, in April 2007. Today the WavEC is internationally well known in this area. In October 2007 we were invited to participate in a Workshop organized by the IEA-OES in Messina, Italy, gathering specialists in environmental aspects of wave energy. Recently WavEC was invited to present its vision of new environmental aspects challenges at the “Global Marine Renewable Conference” (New York, April 2008).

WavEC leads currently the environmental component of the European EQUIMAR project that will introduce the first standards (pre-characterization, monitorization and mitigation measurement studies) for future environmental studies.

Also in the WAVEPLAM project the WavEC has an important role, by studying the non technological barriers, including environmental aspects. Regarding the Pilot Zone, the WavEC gathered and coordinated a working group to discuss an environmental strategy to be presented to the Managing Body of the Pilot Zone. Diverse entities were gathered, namely the Instituto Hidrográfico, IPIMAR, IMAR, INETI, SPVS and HIDROMOD.

Underwater Noise

One of the potential environmental impacts world-wide questioned is underwater noise. Both on a national and international level there are no underwater noise studies based on real facts and there is also no experience of how the acoustic monitorization will take place. The WEAM – Wave Energy Acoustic Monitoring project emerged with the intention to fill this gap. The project is coordinated by the WavEC and receives national funding from the FCT (Technical and Scientific Foundation).