The Marine Characterisation Research Project (MCRP) is an innovative research and development project that will ensure the safe phased deployment of tidal energy turbines in the Morlais Demonstration Zone.
Overview
The Marine Characterisation Research Project (MCRP) is an innovative research and development project that will ensure the safe phased deployment of tidal energy turbines in the Morlais Demonstration Zone. Working with a team of experts, the project will develop an Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan to safeguard marine wildlife. The findings will subsequently be available for future marine renewable energy projects to enable the growth of tidal stream energy.
The Project
Menter Môn’s Marine Characterisation Research Project (MCRP) is an innovative research and development project designed to support the safe implementation of tidal stream devices in the Morlais Demonstration Zone (MDZ). The MDZ is a 35km2 area off Holy Island, Anglesey being developed by Menter Môn.
More About Menter Môn
Menter Môn is a not-for-profit social enterprise, based in Anglesey that works across North West Wales. Its objective is to add value to the local area by building on the region’s resources, benefiting the environment, cultural heritage and economic growth while upholding Welsh language in the community.
Project Objectives
The project will develop an Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP) for the commercial scale deployments of tidal stream energy turbines. Menter Môn is committed to safeguarding the natural environment and, as such, the EMMP will limit and monitor potential impacts on marine life, in particular marine mammals and seabirds, during operation of Morlais. The research will be used as a tool to inform the scale of each phased deployment, in consultation with subject matter experts.
Partners
Menter Môn are working with a network of industry leading academics and businesses based around the UK, including St Andrews, Bangor and Swansea Universities, the RSPB, Ocean Science Consulting, HR Wallingford, Subacoustech, MarineSpace and Juno Energy in developing this plan for the industry.
The Future of Tidal Energy
The work undertaken in the MCRP will contribute to the development and testing of technologies such as active sonar, underwater cameras, acoustic deterrent devices and thermal imaging along with the surveying of the local marine wildlife.
The research and findings from this project will be made available to other renewable energy projects to support them with obtaining the relevant consents and licences. This can then form the basis of future commercial scale deployments of tidal stream turbines in Wales and nationwide.
Further Information
For further information on the MCRP please contact the team on mcrp@mentermon.com
