A new report from The Crown Estate highlights the latest advances in environmental monitoring for tidal stream energy, drawing on data and gathered by the Anglesey-based Marine Characterisation Research Programme (MCRP).
The report explores how the tidal stream energy sector is improving its understanding of the potential environmental impacts of devices such as turbines, with a focus on how they interact with marine wildlife, including movement patterns and habitat use.
The report brings together data from across the UK, including a major contribution from the MCRP, which was developed alongside the Morlais tidal energy scheme in North Wales. It covers key areas such as collision risk, displacement of species and the range of monitoring tools being used at tidal sites — helping to support future development.
Helen Roberts, Project Lead at MCRP, said:
“It’s great to see the work we’ve led in Wales helping to inform thinking at a UK level. The MCRP has brought together industry, researchers and regulators to build a clearer picture of how tidal stream devices interact with the environment – and this report reflects that collaborative effort.”
The MCRP is part of social enterprise Menter Môn’s energy project portfolio and is funded by the Crown Estate and Nuclear Decommissioning Agency. It was established to support the safe deployment of tidal energy devices off the coast of Holyhead as part of the Morlais scheme.
Looking ahead, the findings in the report will help shape how data is shared and transferred across the tidal energy sector, making better use of existing evidence, cutting duplication and promoting progress within the sector.
Read the full report here.
