PNNL

Abstract

Regulators involved in consenting/permitting marine renewable energy (MRE) have faced multiple challenges due to relatively new, unfamiliar technology and uncertainty surrounding potential environmental impacts. This has resulted in slow progress for the MRE industry, including long consenting timeframes and extensive and expensive monitoring requirements, which increase financial risk for investors. OES-Environmental has surveyed regulators internationally to understand the key knowledge gaps to better engage with regulators to support the development of the MRE industry. From the results of these surveys a data transferability process and a risk retirement pathway have been developed to assess consenting and monitoring requirements in proportion with risk. In addition to a matrix tool for discovering existing datasets as well as training materials, regulatory guidance documents, and a strategic outreach plan to engage regulators and advisors have been developed to assist with better understanding environmental effects of marine energy.