Environmental Protocols Framework for baseline and monitoring studies for the ocean renewable energy industry

Abstract

The overarching goal of the Environmental Protocols Framework (Framework) is to describe a clear, consistent process for regulators and industry to follow when designing environmental baseline and post-installation monitoring studies for proposed wave, tidal and offshore wind projects in the U.S, thus reducing time and uncertainty associated with project development. The project team evaluated all stressor-receptor interactions and developed a simple set of criteria to select a set of interactions that provide the most meaningful evaluation of the Framework for each technology type. Design and application of the Framework resulted in different sets of priority issues for each technology type. Case studies of ocean renewable energy projects verified the proof of concept and demonstrated the applicability of the Framework to both real and hypothetical projects. Finally, implementation of this project showed the protocols are adaptable enough to apply to different ocean renewable energy technologies, yet specific enough to be useful for a single project at a single location.