Environmental aspects of wave & tidal power

Tidal power as a renewable energy sources should slight influence on environment. None of marine devices emits CO2 or other air pollution (excluding production process). However some of technologies have strong impact on the local environment.

Tidal Barrage

The barrages which are located on the rivers influx or spread the bay from the sea derange the local ecosystem. The constructed on the river dams provides to progressive silting, to disappear fishes and other organism and following birds. Moreover such a large structure changes scenery. In longer periods causes to completely ecosystem changes. Unfortunately that the most predictable renewable technology has the strongest impact on environment. Therefore the ecologist does not want to allow for the next power plant construction. In the other hand local citizens has other mind about it. The dam is a chance for regional development. To the Rance barrage comes 200 000 visitors annual. Moreover a canal lock permits to passage about 16 000 ships per year. The structure is also a bridge which highway 168 highway crosses. [40]

Tidal Stream Generators

Lesser environmental impact has the TSG. Both turbine technologies has low speed ratio (from 10 to 15 rotations per minute) and they are not dangerous for underwater life. Structures covers small area surface and due to be entirely submerged, it has little visual impact. Devices creates noise inaudible for human however audible for marine animals and warring them to stay in save distance. The TSG emits no air pollution (excluding little amounts in producing process) and no sewage. The CO2 pollution is slightly and only in producing process. The power plant has minimal impact on seabed surface and causes no water level changes. [34]

Wave Energy Converters

As a rest of marine technologies the WEC emits no air pollution and CO2, excluding little amounts during producing process. Usually they are deployed on shallows and near shores thus structures no obstruct traffic. PowerBuoy are totally clean, emits no particulate or gasses pollutions and generate no solid waste or sewage. Device is total quite, does not emit any audible noises and has aesthetically pleasing. Due to buoy structure has minimal impact on the floor surface. Moreover as energy may reduce the shore erosion or may promotes the growth of underwater life as an artificial reef. An Oyster are also almost invisible from the shore and has minimal environmental impact. Device just moves forward and backward and pumps the fluid to the on-shore generation system. Clean water is used as a fluid thus there are also no sewage. A Wave Dragon is a little bit more visible than two above mentioned devices however can by installed in far distance from shore then the visual impact is minimal. As the rest marine technologies noise emission is minimal, generates no air pollution, sewage or solid wastes. Wave Dragon ApS has prepared a set of potential environmental impacts. [36], [37], [38]

For more information about potential environmental impacts and mitigating measures, visit:www.wavedragon.net

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