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This research is supported by SEACAMS2 which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and focuses on the convergence region of Wales. This particular research project is a follow on from a Fujitsu and HPC Wales (now Supercomputing Wales) funded PhD research project supervised by Dr Simon Neill, Bangor University. The tidal array representation method implemented in this modeling tool is based on a tidal turbine parameterisation method, accounting for the momentum capture for each individual device/array. This method is based upon the research described by Roc et al. 2013 & 2014. Each turbine behaviour is tuned via the drag coefficient, namely Ct, respectively relating to the thrust coefficient. This tidal array representation method has been implemented as a smeared drag-force at across user-defined depth layers within a large-scale ocean circulation modeling system that is the Regional Ocean Modeling System, ROMS. ROMS is an open-source 3-D model which solves the hydrostatic Navier-Stokes equations using a Boussinesq approximation on a structured horizontal grid with terrain following sigma layers[3]. Note that ROMS/TOMS version 3.7 - revision 898, is used in the current distribution of ROMS-Tidal Array. The turbine representation module is applied using the following files: roms_src/ROMS/External/varinfo.dat roms_src/ROMS/Include/cppdefs.h roms_src/ROMS/Nonlinear/initial.F roms_src/ROMS/Nonlinear/rhs3d.F roms_src/ROMS/Utility/def_info.F roms_src/ROMS/Utility/checkdefs.F roms_src/ROMS/Utility/wrt_info.F roms_src/ROMS/Utility/read_phypar.F roms_src/ROMS/Modules/mod_ncparam.F roms_src/ROMS/Modules/mod_iounits.F roms_src/ROMS/Modules/mod_arrays.F roms_src/ROMS/Modules/mod_trb.F Modification to ROMS src for the inclusion of tidal energy extraction

Discussion Report. Equitable Testing and Evaluation of Marine Energy Extraction Devices in terms of Performance, Cost and Environmental Impact. The report is a contribution by Aalborg University (AAU) to the deliverable on Assessment of current practice for tank testing of small marine energy devices. Discussion Report. Equitable Testing and Evaluation of Marine Energy Extraction Devices in terms of Performance, Cost and Environmental Impact. The report is a contribution by Aalborg University (AAU) to the deliverable on Assessment of current practice for tank testing of small marine energy devices.

The strict emission standards for port approach and coastal navigation, and the fuel-saving requirements, in the marine sector, are pushing the manufactures to consider more advanced and alternative propulsion systems. In this context, this study deals with the design and management of an innovative hybrid thermal-electric propulsion system. The evaluations are referred to the case study of a leisure boat, which is used for passenger transportation in tourist areas. Experimental tests are carried out on single components, with a particular focus on re-calibration of the thermal engine, for its homologation and optimal use in the proposed hybrid architecture. The identification of proper management strategies is performed on the basis of a boat simulation model, which is set up starting from experimental data and characteristics of components. In this regard, an optimization procedure, based on the use of genetic algorithms, is performed in order to set the parameters of onboard energy management strategies and pursue the double objective of extending battery pack cycling life and reducing exhaust emissions. The obtained simulation results highlight the benefits of the proposed architecture showing sensible improvements in comparison with a traditional ICE based configuration. The methodology proposed in this paper enables reliable evaluations and preliminary optimization of energy management strategies, with a drastic reduction in experimentation time and general costs.

This paper presents energy and power evaluations on propulsion and generation systems related to a research vessel, named G. DALLAPORTA. This vessel is used by the National Research Council of Italy for oceanographic campaigns, which are generally carried out in the Mediterranean Sea. The analysis is based on measurements of the main electrical and mechanical parameters, related to on board propulsion, oleodynamic and electric auxiliary systems, with reference to the original thermal configuration of the ship. These preliminary results, obtained through theoretical methodology, make possible the identification of a designing procedure for the hybridization of this vessel, in order to respect the international marine standards, in terms of emissions and safety procedures.

Hydrodynamic Ocean Circulation Models and Lagrangian particle tracking models are valuable tools e.g. in coastal ecology to identify the connectivity between offshore spawning and coastal nursery areas of commercially important fish, for risk assessment and more for defining or evaluating marine protected areas. Most studies are based on only one model and do not provide levels of uncertainty. Here this uncertainty was addressed by applying a suite of 11 North Sea models to test what variability can be expected concerning connectivity. Different notional test cases were calculated related to three important and well-studied North Sea fish species: herring (Clupea harengus), and the flatfishes sole (Solea solea) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). For sole and plaice we determined which fraction of particles released in the respective spawning areas would reach a coastal marine protected area. For herring we determined the fraction located in a wind park after a predefined time span. As temperature is more and more a focus especially in biological and global change studies, furthermore inter-model variability in temperatures experienced by the virtual particles was determined. The main focus was on the transport variability originating from the physical models and thus biological behavior was not included. Depending on the scenario, median experienced temperatures differed by 3. °C between years. The range between the different models in one year was comparable to this temperature range observed between modelled years. Connectivity between flatfish spawning areas and the coastal protected area was highly dependent on the release location and spawning time. No particles released in the English Channel in the sole scenario reached the protected area while up to 20% of the particles released in the plaice scenario did. Interannual trends in transport directions and connectivity rates were comparable between models but absolute values displayed high variations. Most models showed systematic biases during all years in comparison to the ensemble median, indicating that in general interannual variation was represented but absolute values varied. In conclusion: variability between models is generally high and management decisions or scientific analysis using absolute values from only one single model might be biased and results or conclusions drawn from such studies need to be treated with caution. We further concluded that more true validation data for particle modelling are required.

Fishing is an energy-intensive economic activity. Research in several fields is conducted to improve the energy and environmental profile of fishing vessels. As regards the technical measures, the assessment of benefits is often hampered by boundary conditions that are difficult to quantify and side effects that are difficult to unravel. This study examined the impact of a fluoropolymer-based fouling release paint on the fuel consumption rate of a Mediterranean bottom trawler. The analysis of a series of sea trial campaigns allowed for a quantitative and qualitative comparison of fuel consumption rate during the regular fishing activities. Comparing the fuel consumption rate before and after the application of the fluoropolymer-based foul-release coating, a reduction in fuel consumption rate was observed and quantified. Other advantages are discussed in this paper regarding the reduction of GHG emission, and the more environmental-friendly approach using biocide-free and non-banned products.

Abstract The question whether coexistence of marine renewable energy (MRE) projects and marine protected areas (MPAs) is a common spatial policy in Europe and how a number of factors can affect it, has been addressed by empirical research undertaken in eleven European marine areas. Policy drivers and objectives that are assumed to affect coexistence, such as the fulfillment of conservation objectives and the prioritization of other competing marine uses, were scored by experts and predictions were crosschecked with state practice. While in most areas MRE-MPA coexistence is not prohibited by law, practice indicates resistance towards it. Furthermore expert judgment demonstrated that a number of additional factors, such as the lack of suitable space for MRE projects and the uncertainty about the extent of damage by MRE to the MPA, might influence the intentions of the two major parties involved (i.e. the MRE developer and the MPA authority) to pursue or avoid coexistence. Based on these findings, the interactions of these two players are further interpreted, their policy implications are discussed, while the need towards efficient, fair and acceptable MRE-MPA coexistence is highlighted.

AbstractPolypropionates that incorporate pyrones are a family of polyketides featuring the chemistry of a few marine molluscs capable of phototrophic CO2 fixation as a result of storing viable symbiotic chloroplasts in their bodies. The role and origin of these molecules is poorly investigated, although the unusual biological activities and chemistry of these natural products have recently received renewed interest. Here, we report the results of in vivo studies on production of γ‐pyrone‐containing polypropionates in the Mediterranean mollusc Elysia viridis. Biosynthesis of the metabolites in the sacoglossan is shown to proceed through condensation of eight intact C3 units by polyketide synthase assembly. LC–MS and NMR spectroscopic studies demonstrate that the process involves a pyrone tetraene (10) as key intermediate, whereas the levels of the final polypropionates (6, 7 and 9) are related to each other and show a significant dependence upon light conditions.

Large scale and transnational electricity grids facilitate balancing capacity across the areas that they serve and increase potential for energy trading. Offshore grids and the more ambitious notion of supergrids are beginning to play a significant part, especially in Europe, in the realization of improving security of domestic energy supply and expanding renewable energy production. As such, offshore (super-) grid development provides an excellent example of the move towards marine regionalization. Moreover, because of limited spatial claims and environmental impacts, marine electricity systems seem well-aligned with the rationale of ecosystem-based management, which is at the heart of European marine governance. By outlining their historical path and the envisioned outlook, in this article we show how offshore (super-) grid developments link up to marine regionalization and its related processes of integration and cooperation. It is argued that scaling-up grids to the level of regional seas is not unproblematic, but faces obstacles which depend on persistent practical and policy realities, and which may be relevant to other expressions of marine regionalization.