PNNL

Abstract

Unknowns around the environmental effects of marine renewable energy have slowed the deployment of this emerging technology worldwide. Established testing methods are necessary to safely permit and develop marine energy devices. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are one potential environmental effect that are created when electricity is generated and transmitted to shore. While some animals use electromagnetic fields to navigate or detect their surroundings, it is unknown how much anthropogenic EMFs in the ocean impact marine organisms’ life history. Further, the variation of the background magnetic field in local sites that may be developed for marine energy is largely unknown, making it difficult to assess how much additional stress or impact the anthropogenic magnetic field may have. Through fieldwork in Sequim Bay, WA, this study provides recommendations for methods and instrumentation to assess the background magnetic field.