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Marine Renewables

Attention to the global energy situation is ever increasing. Sources for energy production, distribution and consumption are changing rapidly and this is having a major impact on ecosystems, which underpin many of the energy supplies. The 2009 World Energy Outlook warns that global energy demand could increase by more than half from 2004 to 2030 with fossil fuels likely to dominate the global energy mix until 2030.

The challenge of moving to a lower carbon economy requires a portfolio of low carbon energy technologies for the electricity, heat and transport markets. Alternative energy markets are expanding as the world tries to shed its reliance on fossil fuels while still meeting growing global energy demand.

Environmental and socio-economic research to support development of the low carbon energy sector cuts across all of PML Applications Ltd and Plymouth Marine Laboratory's (PML) research capabilities and interests, whether biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, ecotoxicology and biofouling, remote sensing applications or socio-economic valuation. 

In order to drive comprehensive and rapid understanding of renewable energy technologies PML Applications Ltd and PML have adopted a policy of learning from direct involvement in live wind/tidal and wave projects. This has been achieved in collaboration with engineering consultancies and an extensive research network. The companies are also developing novel technologies to support carbon management and is pursuing patent applications for several offshore and coastal energy generating technologies and so has wide interests in this sector.

PML Applications has undertaken reviews such as of 'the reef effects of offshore windfarm structures and the potential for enhancement and mitigation’ to support policy development and licensing decisions in relation to offshore wind. In parallel with this, the organisation has undertaken baseline marine ecological studies for sites which all potentially benefit from the understanding gained from involvement in the research study.