The document describes MAREN, an INTERREG project that aims to optimize energy extraction from marine renewable resources while minimizing environmental impacts. MAREN involves partners from several European countries studying different renewable energy types. The project will produce high-resolution models of resource potential and environmental impacts for case study locations. It will also compare environmental assessment protocols across regions and create a database of marine renewable projects. The UK case studies include modeling potential tidal barrages, lagoons, and tidal stream and wave projects in Wales and England. The Hydro-Environmental Research Centre is modeling impacts of technologies like the Cardiff-Weston tidal barrage and tidal stream turbines on hydrodynamics, sediments, water quality and the environment. The document proposes a

1. Investing in our common future
Co-financed with the support of the European Union ERDF – Atlantic Area Programme
MAREN
“Optimising the energy extraction potential of the
marine resource whilst minimising the negative
hydro-environmental impact”
Bettina Bockelmann-Evans
Hydro-environmental Research Centre, Cardiff University
Severn Estuary Forum 2011
Friday 23rd September

2. MAREN Aims
• INTERREG project: Support economical
growth
• Close Stakeholder involvement: Associate
partners and development of a
Stakeholder Forum
• Bring European Perspective of Marine
Renewable Energy into Wales

3. MAREN Partners
Cardiff- Tidal Barrage & Impoundments: Dr Bettina
Bockelmann – Evans, Prof Roger Falconer, Dr Reza
Ahmadian , Ellie La Trobe-Bateman
National University of Ireland, Galway – Tidal Stream
IHC - University of Cantabria, Spain - Offshore Wind
Centec, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Portugal – Wave
Ifremer, France – La Rance Barrage
Other partners – Policy makers, private & public
sectors

4. MAREN Outputs
1. Country Modelling Case Studies
• High resolution modelling and mapping of the resource potential
• Assessment of marine renewable energy device performance
• Assessment of the Environmental Impact
• Future climate change scenarios – for resource, impacts and design
requirements
• Carbon emission life-cycle analysis
2. Comparative analysis of EIA and SEA protocol across the Atlantic
corridor
3. Database of ongoing and planned Marine Renewable Energy
projects/devices world-wide

5. UK Case Studies
RE Type Location Study Type
Wave Cornwall Energy Potential
Severn Estuary
Pembrokeshire (St
Annes Head to
Ramsey Sound)
Tidal
Stream
Severn Estuary Energy Potential
?Ramsey Sound
Tidal
Barrage
Severn Estuary-
Cardiff Western
Barrage
Energy Potential
Environmental
Impact
Fleming Lagoon
Llanelli- Loughor
barrage
RE Type Location Study Type
Tidal
Impoundment
Rhyl, N. Wales Energy Potential
Environmental
Impact
?Bridgewater Energy Potential
?Swansea Energy Potential
Environmental
Impact
Offshore
Wind
?Severn
Estuary
Energy Potential
Atlantic Area Climate Change
Impact on design

6. Modelling at the HRC
• Modelling of the Severn Barrage including potential hydro-
environmental and ecological impacts of the Cardiff-Weston Barrage
under different generation modes and climate change.
• Modelling tidal lagoons including the impacts on the hydrodynamics,
sediment transport , water quality, the environment and coastal
flooding.
• Hydro-environmental modelling of arrays of stream turbines including
potential hydro-environmental impacts of various shapes of arrays
and potential generated power.
What else could be done...
• energy assessment / sediment transport / flood risk / water quality /
pathogens / site identification / etc

7. Severn Estuary Hydraulic Model

8. Severn Barrage - Grid Configuration
Inner Barrage
Cardiff

9. Suspended Sediment Levels
Mean Flood
Without Barrage With Barrage
Mean Flood - Spring Tide
Reduced sediment
levels & clearer water

10. 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6
2 m/s
Water level (m)
Flood
ame 001  01 Sep 2008  Hydrodynamic Results in Nodes
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
2 m/s
Water level (m)
Ebb
Frame 001  01 Sep 2008  Hydrodynamic Results in Nodes
Velocity Field Around Lagoon
(a) During Filling Mode (b) During Generating Mode

11. With Turbines Without Turbines
Modelling Stream Turbines

12. Thank You
www.marenproject.eu
Bockelmann-Evans@cf.ac.uk

13. Investing in our common future
Co-financed with the support of the European Union ERDF – Atlantic Area Programme
Wales Marine
Energy Task
Group
Marine Energy
Pembrokeshire
Working Group
Marine Energy
Severn
Working Group
Marine Energy
Swansea
Working Group
Marine Energy
N. Wales
Working Group
A CONCEPT for how Wales can join up all Marine Renewable Energy
Projects, Groups and Stakeholders to create a joined up coherent strategy,
maximising efficiency and enabling Wales to optimise its marine renewable
energy source, minimising the negative environmental impacts.
Task Group runs an
annual event like that
which MEP currently
runs – but for all
Wales – it nearly does
this already)
Working Groups are
responsibility for
enabling local action
and projects in
specific areas to
happen
Made up of all
stakeholders from all
sectors – Research,
Industry, Ports, EA,
NGOs, Government,
Private Businesses
etc
Made locally relevant
stakeholders who
enable a project to go
ahead from all sectors
– Research, Industry,
Ports, EA, NGOs,
Government, Private
Businesses etc