Environmental impact and mitigation
Our approach to environmental protection
Pliosaur Energy is developing marine energy technology designed to generate clean, predictable electricity while reducing environmental impact wherever possible. Our approach is to avoid, minimise and mitigate potential impacts throughout the full project lifecycle, from early site assessment and design through to installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning.
Early environmental screening
All Pliosaur Energy projects are expected to undergo early environmental and socio-economic screening. This helps identify sensitive habitats, marine species, community interests, navigation considerations and other local factors that may be affected by project activity.
Low-impact marine energy design
Our technology includes design features intended to reduce the environmental impact of installation and operation. The use of floating turbines and deadweight anchors can reduce or remove the need for piling during construction, helping to limit seabed disturbance, underwater noise and disruption to the local marine environment.
Fish and marine mammal protection
The turbine is designed to reduce collision risk through a low maximum rotor blade tip speed of approximately 3 m/s. This relatively slow blade movement is intended to give fish and marine mammals more time to detect and avoid the rotor than they may have around faster-moving marine turbine blades. Additional protection is provided by rotor blade edge protection and screening to prevent larger fish and marine mammals from approaching the rotor. A fish passage beneath the rotor allows smaller fish to pass through the system without passing through the rotating blades.
Biodiversity and ecosystem management
Pliosaur Energy aims to understand and manage potential effects on biodiversity and local ecosystems throughout the project lifecycle. Environmental learning from each project will be used to improve future design, deployment and operational practices.
Waste reduction and marine waste collection
Our goal is to avoid, reduce and reuse waste created by our operations. Where practical, our technology may also support marine waste collection by capturing floating debris through the overtopping screen, allowing operators to remove collected waste safely and responsibly.
Carbon impact
Marine energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by generating renewable electricity that would otherwise need to be supplied by fossil fuel generation. Over the operating life of the project, the emissions avoided through clean electricity generation are expected to significantly outweigh those associated with manufacturing, installation, operation and maintenance.