How 'Blue' Is 'Green' Energy?

Andrew J Wright; Claryana Araújo-Wang; John Y Wang; Peter S Ross; Jakob Tougaard; Robin Winkler; Melissa C Márquez; Frances C Robertson; Kayleigh Fawcett Williams; Randall R Reeves

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.002

How 'Blue' Is 'Green' Energy?

Trends Ecol Evol. 2020 Mar;35(3):235-244. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.002. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Fisheries and Oceans Canada Maritimes Region, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. Electronic address: marinebrit@gmail.com.
² Botos do Cerrado - Pesquisas Ambientais, A-3 Street, Vila Alpes, Goiânia, Goiás 74310-040, Brazil; CetAsia Research Group, 310-7250 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 7X1, Canada.
³ CetAsia Research Group, 310-7250 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 7X1, Canada; Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada.
⁴ Ocean Wise Conservation Association, PO Box 3232, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X8, Canada.
⁵ Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
⁶ Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, Taiwan, 6f-1, 106 Huaining Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei 10046, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
⁸ Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
⁹ KFW Scientific & Creative, 1 Alvis Gate, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 1BE, UK.
¹⁰ Okapi Wildlife Associates, 27 Chandler Lane, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0, Canada; International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission - Cetacean Specialist Group, 27 Chandler Lane, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0, Canada.

PMID: 31862123
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.002

Abstract

Often perceived as environmentally benign, 'green' renewable energy technologies have ecological costs that are often overlooked, especially those occurring below the waterline. After briefly discussing the impacts of hydropower on freshwater and marine organisms, we focus this review on the impacts of marine renewable energy devices (MREDs) on underwater marine organisms, particularly offshore wind farms and marine energy converters (e.g., tidal turbines). We consider both cumulative impacts and synergistic interactions with other anthropogenic pressures, using offshore wind farms and the Taiwanese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis) as an example. While MREDs undoubtedly can help mitigate climate change, variability in the sensitivity of different species and ecosystems means that rigorous case-by-case assessments are needed to fully comprehend the consequences of MRED use.

Keywords: Sousa chinensis taiwanensis; Taiwanese white dolphin; ecological impacts; marine renewable energy devices; offshore wind farm; tidal turbines.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aquatic Organisms
Ecosystem*
Energy-Generating Resources*
Renewable Energy
Wind