University of Manchester Leads Study on Underwater Noise Impact from Tidal Energy Turbines
The University of Manchester is leading the (not)NOISY project to investigate the underwater noise impacts of tidal energy turbines. This research aims to create advanced tools for predicting the cumulative acoustic emissions from tidal turbine arrays, which can travel up to 8 km underwater.
As the UK expands its tidal energy capacity, understanding these environmental impacts is crucial for project licensing and policy development. The project will develop high-fidelity models replicating real-world conditions at four European tidal energy sites, including EMEC and MeyGen in Scotland, Normandie Hydroliennes in France, and Morlais in Wales. The outcome will be the PyTAI tool, enabling rapid noise predictions to support environmental assessments and regulatory guidance.
