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Ecological Risk Assessment tool for Wave Energy Converters (WEC-ERA Tool)

This is a open access tool for managers, decision makers and industry when assessing the suitability of Wave Energy Converters (WEC) projects, in terms of the potential impacts that they can cause. The tool is based on the Ecosystem Risk Assessment of three different Wave Energy Converters technologies during their life-cycle stages (from installation to operation and decommissioning).





The development of WEC-ERA tool is supported by the projects:


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This window allows you to define the characteristics of the WEC project you are assessing


User input:

Indicate project characteristics:


Proportion sealed/total area (%):

                    





Plots showing the pressures produced by each technology at each life clycle phase.

Choose the wave energy converter technology and life cycle phase (the location will be selected automatically):

  • NIS: Input or spread of non-indigenous species.
  • Pathogens: Input of microbial pathogens.
  • GenMod: Input of genetically modified species and translocation of indigenous species.
  • BiolChange: Loss of, or change to, natural biological communities due to cultivation of animal or plant species.
  • BioDisturb: Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence.
  • Extraction: Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities).
  • PhysDisturb: Physical disturbance to seabed (temporary or reversible).
  • PhysLoss: Physical loss (due to permanent change of seabed substrate or morphology and to extraction of seabed substrate).
  • HydroChange: Changes to hydrological conditions.
  • Nutrients: Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition.
  • OrgMat: Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources.
  • OtherSubs: Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events.
  • Litter: Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter).
  • Sound: Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous).
  • Energy: Input of other forms of energy (including electromagnetic fields, light and heat).
  • Water: Input of water - point sources (e.g. brine).


Ecological sensitivity is the reaction level of the environmental change caused by internal and external factors.

Choose from the drops list below the ecosystem elements for which you want to plot its sensitivity to each type of pressures:
  • NIS: Input or spread of non-indigenous species.
  • Pathogens: Input of microbial pathogens.
  • GenMod: Input of genetically modified species and translocation of indigenous species.
  • BiolChange: Loss of, or change to, natural biological communities due to cultivation of animal or plant species.
  • BioDisturb: Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence.
  • Extraction: Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities).
  • PhysDisturb: Physical disturbance to seabed (temporary or reversible).
  • PhysLoss: Physical loss (due to permanent change of seabed substrate or morphology and to extraction of seabed substrate).
  • HydroChange: Changes to hydrological conditions.
  • Nutrients: Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition.
  • OrgMat: Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources.
  • OtherSubs: Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events.
  • Litter: Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter).
  • Sound: Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous).
  • Energy: Input of other forms of energy (including electromagnetic fields, light and heat).
  • Water: Input of water - point sources (e.g. brine).

Sankey plot showing the frequency and magnitude of relationships between the wave energy technologies in their life cycle phases, pressures and ecosystem elements according to Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
The width of the nodes and lines are proportionally to the flow magnitude.
Click on the node to highlight the relationships. Direct relationships are highlighted in black while indirect relations in grey.



Risk matrix for each ecosystem element and pressure linked to the selected wave energy project characteristics.
Click on each pressure to order the ecosystem elements.


Download

Assessment of risks associated to each type of pressure that may be generated for the selected wave energy converters project characteristics.



Download report







The development of the WEC-ERA tool was funded by:



The team:


Conceptualization

Ibon Galparsoro

Application coding and design

Maria Korta

Ibon Galparsoro

Isaac Subirana

Gotzon Mandiola

Ivan Saez

David Álvarez

Coordination

Ibon Galparsoro

Contact

If you have any question about the WEC-ERA tool, please do not hesitate to contact us

  email