There is a robust research community that is focused on understanding and documenting the environmental effects of marine energy devices. Here we provide some useful links to resources, including industry and government bodies that are working in this expanding area of research. 

Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Amerson, A., and D. Dexheimer. 2025. “Enhancing marine wildlife observations: the application of tethered balloon systems and advanced imaging sensors for sustainable marine energy development.” Marine Biology 172 (68). 
• Cotter, E., J. McVey, L. Weicht, and J. Haxel. 2024. “Performance of Three Hydrophone Flow Shields in a Tidal Channel.” JASA Express Letters 4: 016001. 
• Amerson, A., I. Gonzalez-Hirshfeld, and D. Dexheimer. 2023. “Validating a Tethered Balloon System and Optical Technologies for Marine Wildlife Detection and Tracking.” Remote Sensing 15 (19): 4709.
• Popper, A., J. Haxel, G. Staines, S. Guan, S. Nedelec, L. Roberts, and Z. D. Deng. 2023. “Marine Energy Converters: Potential Acoustic Effects on Fishes and Aquatic Invertebrates.” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 154: 518–532. 
• Cotter, E., and G. Staines. 2023. “Observing Fish Interactions with Marine Energy Turbines Using Acoustic Cameras.” Fish and Fisheries 24 (6): 1020–1033. 
• Results and recommendations from the Triton Field Trials were published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering special issue titled, “Technology and Methods for Environmental Monitoring of Marine Renewable Energy.” Papers include: 
  • Eaves, S. L., G. Staines, G. Harker-Klimeš, M. Pinza, and S. Geerlofs. 2022. “Triton Field Trials: Promoting Consistent Environmental Monitoring Methodologies for Marine Energy Sites.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (2): 177. 
  • Hemery, L. G., K. F. Mackereth, C. M. Gunn, and E. P. Pablo. 2022. “Use of a 360-Degree Underwater Camera to Characterize Artificial Reef and Fish Aggregating Effects around Marine Energy Devices.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (5): 555.
  • Hemery, L. G., K. F. Mackereth, and L. G. Tugade. 2022. “What’s in My Toolkit? A Review of Technologies for Assessing Changes in Habitats Caused by Marine Energy Development.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (1): 92.
  • Staines, G. J., R. P. Muellers, A. C. Seitz, M. D. Evans, P. W. O’Byrne, and M. Wosnik. 2022. “Capabilities of an Acoustic Camera to Inform Fish Collision Risk with Current Energy Converter Turbines.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (4): 483.
  • Haxel, J., X., Zang, J. Martinez, B. Polagye, G. Staines, Z. D. Deng, M. Wosnik, and P. O’Byrne. 2022. “Underwater Noise Measurements around a Tidal Turbine in a Busy Port Setting.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (5): 632.
  • Grear, M. E., J. R. McVey, E. D. Cotter, N. G. Williams, and R. J. Cavagnaro. 2022. “Quantifying Background Magnetic Fields at Marine Energy Sites: Challenges and Recommendations.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (5): 687.
  • Buenau, K. E., L. Garavelli, L. G. Hemery, and G. G. Medina. 2022. “A Review of Modeling Approaches for Understanding and Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (1): 94.
  • Reilly, C. E., J. Larson, A. M. Amerson, G. J. Staines, J. H. Haxel, and P. M. Pattison. 2022. “Minimizing Ecological Impacts of Marine Energy Lighting.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (3): 354.
  • Gunn, C. M., A. M. Amerson, K. L. Adkisson, and J. H. Haxel. 2022. “A Framework for Effective Science Communication and Outreach Strategies for Marine Energy Projects.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (2): 130.
  • Amerson, A. M., T. M. Harris, S. R. Michener, C. M. Gunn, and J. H. Haxel. 2022. “A Summary of Environmental Monitoring Recommendations for Marine Energy Development That Considers Life Cycle Sustainability.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10 (5): 586.
     

Magazine Features

• "Listening to the Beat of New Ocean Technologies for Harvesting Marine Energy" in Acoustics Today Magazine.
• “A federal research initiative to facilitate marine energy projects wraps its operations in Big Sur” featured in Monterey County Weekly.
• "Monitoring for Marine Life" in University of Washington Magazine. 
• "Clean Energy from the Ocean: Measuring the Environmental Footprint of Devices" Sea Technology Magazine.
   

Webinars

MArine Energy Careers

• Marine Energy Career Panel 1
• Marine Energy Careers Panel 2

Triton talks webinars

• Introducing the Triton Initiative and the Triton Field Trials 
• Predictive Modeling with Kate Buenau 
• Science Communication with Cailene Gunn 
•  Electromagnetic Fields with Molly Grear
• Collision Risk with Garrett Staines 
• Underwater Noise & Anthropogenic Light Research 
• Changes in Habitat & Marine Energy Sustainability 

To watch past Triton Talks webinars, go the Triton Talks YouTube Playlist 
 

Videos

Animation: Acoustic Particle Motion and Ocean Energy

Taking Marine Energy Research to New Heights with Tethered Balloon Systems

Triton's Marine Wildlife Detection and Tracking Project

Triton Initiative Collision Risk Data Collection

The Triton Initiative tests technologies to study changes in habitat around a wave energy converter

Triton Initiative underwater noise field trials at the University of New Hampshire Living Bridge

The Triton Initiative tests technologies to study collision risk around marine energy devices

Moving hydrokinetic research forward by understanding the interactions with Alaska fish

Understanding the interactions of fish with renewable energy in Alaska rivers
 

Relevant Reports

• OES-Environmental. 2024. OES-Environmental 2024 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World. Ocean Energy Systems.
• Water Power Technologies Office. 2024. “ Triton Initiative Develops Technologies and Tools to Support Environmental Monitoring.”  Department of Energy, Water Power Technologies Office.
• Packer, A., T. Acker, and G. Staines. 2022. Triton: Environmental Monitoring Technology Development, Collision Risk Data Collection. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PNNL-33475.
• Water Power Technologies Office 2021–2022 Accomplishments Report. 
• Kilcher, L., M. Fogarty, and M. Lawson. 2021. Marine Energy in the United States: An Overview of Opportunities. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-5700-78773.
• OES-Environmental. 2020. OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World. Ocean Energy Systems.
• Buenau, K., L. Garavelli, L. Hemery, G. Garcia Medina, and L. Hibler. Review of Available Models for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy. U.S. Department of Energy. 
• Normandeau Associates, Inc., Exponent Inc., T. Tricas, and A. Gill. 2011. Effects of EMFs from Undersea Power Cables on Elasmobranchs and other Marine Species.  U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
• EPRI. 2011. Mapping and Assessment of the United States Ocean Wave Energy Resource. Electric Power Research Institute, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 
• Copping, A., A. LiVecchi, H. Spence, A. Gorton, S. Jenne, R. Preus, G. Gill, R. Robichaud, and S. Gore. 2018. “Maritime Renewable Energy Markets: Power from the Sea.” Marine Technology Society Journal 52 (5): 99–109.  
• Water Power Technologies Office. 2018. “Ocean Energy Systems (OES) Spotlight on Ocean Energy Report.”  
• ORJIP. 2015. ORJIP Ocean Energy: The Forward Look; an Ocean Energy Environmental Research Strategy for the UK. Aquatera Ltd. 
• Kuletz, K., and E. Labunski. 2017. Seabird Distribution and Abundance in the Offshore Environment Final Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
   

Databases

Portal and Repository for Information on Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMRE)

Tethys Marine Energy Knowledge Base

Management Measures Tool for Marine Energy

Tethys Engineering Knowledge Base.

Marine Energy Projects Database
 

About Marine Energy

Marine energy basics

Tidal energy explained  

Wave energy explained   

About environmental monitoring for marine energy

Videos about the environmental impacts of marine energy  

Marine energy glossary

About the Blue Economy

U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office 

Marine Energy Council 

Ocean Energy Systems  

Have questions? Want to give us feedback? Let us know here or connect with us via e-mail at tritonmre@pnnl.gov.