Underwater acoustic measurements of the WET-NZ device at Oregon State University’s ocean test facility

Haxel, J. (2012). Underwater acoustic measurements of the WET-NZ device at Oregon State University’s ocean test facility. Report by Oregon State University (OSU). Report for Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC).

Abstract

Potential impacts from sound transmitted by wave energy conversion (WEC) devices on marine ecosystems are not well understood and remain an important environmental concern for the developing marine hydrokinetic renewable energy industry. On August 22, 2012 the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC) began a test deployment of a WEC device at Oregon State University’s ocean test facility (OTF) off the coast of Newport, Oregon. The operational Wave Energy Technologies – New Zealand (WET-NZ) device provides the first opportunity to measure acoustic changes in the ambient sound field resulting from WEC technology testing at NNMREC’s mobile OTF. The main objective of the acoustic measurements included in this initial report is to determine if the WET-NZ device under test transmits acoustic energy above National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) marine mammal harassment thresholds.

Underwater acoustic measurements of the WET-NZ device at Oregon State University’s ocean test facility is located in Oregon, United States of America.