Noise emissions from two tidal turbines; an experimental field campaign

P. Schmitt, Matthew K. Pine, Lilian Lieber, Louise T. Kregting

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Citation (Scopus)
49 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The first tidal turbine arrays have now been installed as the world strives to reach net zero carbon targets by 2050. Underwater noise emissions from single tidal turbine devices have caused some environmental concern in the past and therefore determining levels of noise emitted from these structures has become a crucial component of the consenting process. Ecological concerns include auditory masking for local fauna, presenting potential migration barriers and affecting predation. While some progress has been made in characterising noise emissions from individual tidal turbines in realistic field conditions, little is known about the noise field created by multiple turbines. This paper presents a first analysis of the variation of noise emissions of an array of two test turbines, deployed from a moored floating platform in the Strangford Narrows, Northern Ireland. Data was acquired using a drifting hydrophone for zero, one and two turbines operating under different control settings. Data analyses were complicated by the limited amount of data. Stopping the turbines completely does not necessarily result in minimum noise emissions, potentially due to flow separation from the stationary blades, turbulence and induced structural vibrations.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe 14th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC) 2021: Proceedings
Pages2204-1-2204-4
Number of pages4
Publication statusPublished - 01 Dec 2021
Event14th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, EWTEC 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 05 Sep 202109 Sep 2021

Publication series

NameThe European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC): Proceedings
ISSN (Print)2706-6940
ISSN (Electronic)2706-6932

Conference

Conference14th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, EWTEC 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period05/09/202109/09/2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by the Bryden Centre project, supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). We would also like to thank Ian Benson and Dr Carwyn Frost for facilitating our measurements on the barge during their testing programme.

Publisher Copyright:
© European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference 2021.

Keywords

  • Acoustics
  • Hydrokinetics
  • Renewable Energy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Water Science and Technology

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