Development and application of an environmental risk register for marine energy device and project developers

Journal Article · Sun May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2026 · Ocean and Coastal Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108170· OSTI ID:3027740

Freeman, Mikaela C.; Farr, Hayley K.; Staines, Garrett J.; Haxel, Joseph H.

The marine energy industry is steadily advancing as more devices are deployed worldwide. However, several challenges and barriers remain, such as lingering uncertainty regarding the potential environmental effects of marine energy devices on marine animals, habitats, and ecosystems. Concerns have led to difficulty navigating permitting and consenting processes and receiving authorization to deploy devices in the marine environment, including extended timelines and costs. Based on existing risk registers, a novel marine energy environmental risk register was created to help the marine energy industry move beyond these barriers. This risk register aims to aid marine energy device and project developers identify and assess potential environmental risks early in device design or project planning, document and track potential environmental interactions, prioritize risks and determine risk responses, and make decisions throughout device or project development. It can also be used as a tool to assist in communicating with regulators and advisors during permitting processes and to inform stakeholder and community engagement efforts. This paper details the methods and process to develop a risk register specific to environmental effects of marine energy and describes two use cases (one for wave energy and another for tidal energy) to highlight example results. Due to the tool's novelty, the paper showcases its application for the marine energy industry and acknowledges limitations and possible future improvements. Overall, the environmental risk register shows promise to support marine energy developers when identifying, tracking, and addressing potential environmental risks and to help successfully navigate permitting and deploy marine energy devices responsibly.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 3027740
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-221148
• Journal Information: Ocean and Coastal Management, Journal Name: Ocean and Coastal Management Vol. 276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Risk assessment
environmental effects of marine energy
Marine Energy