Setting an agenda for biofouling research for the marine renewable energy industry

Abstract

Abstract:Extensive marine growth on man-made structures in the ocean is commonplace, yet there has been limited discussion about the potential implications of marine growth for the wave and tidal energy industry. In response, the Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewables (EIMR) Biofouling Expert Workshop was convened. Discussions involved participants from the marine renewable energy (MRE) industry, anti-fouling industry, academic institutions and regulatory bodies. The workshop aimed to consider both the benefits and negative effects of biofouling from engineering and ecological perspectives. In order to form an agenda for future research in the area of biofouling and the marine renewable energy industry, 119 topics were generated, categorised and prioritised. Identified areas for future focus fell within four overarching categories: operation and maintenance; structured design and engineering; ecology; and knowledge exchange. It is clear that understanding and minimising biofouling impacts on MRE infrastructure will be vital to the successful development of a reliable and cost effective MRE industry.

Managing Biofouling on Submerged Static Artificial Structures in the Marine Environment – Assessment of Current and Emerging Approaches

“…Accumulation of biofouling on energy production infrastructure can increase drag (Macleod et al, 2016;Vinagre et al, 2020), affect cathodic protection (leading to corrosion), create microenvironments that encourage microbial corrosion (Blackwood et al, 2017;Li and Ning, 2019), reduce water flow in cooling systems (Venkatesan and Murthy, 2009), compromise health and safety of operators (e.g., sharp or slippery fouling on stairs and ladders), and endanger the entire plant (Satpathy and Rajmohan, 2001). Considerable costs are associated with over-engineering to combat hydrodynamic impacts and weight loadings during SSAS development as well as the requirements for extensive inspection and ongoing post-deployment maintenance (Klijnstra et al, 2017;Loxton et al, 2017).…”

Sea-trial verification of a novel system for monitoring biofouling and testing anti-fouling coatings in highly energetic environments targeted by the marine renewable energy industry

“…There are relatively few published studies on biofouling in this sector owing partly to the early technology readiness level of MRE devices, and to commercial sensitivities (Shields et al 2011). Furthermore, in situ studies comparing coating performance in the MRE sector are absent from peer-reviewed literature (Loxton et al 2017). MRE studies have included biofouling assessments of buoys (Langhamer et al 2009;Macleod et al 2016) and have described the role that vessels and harbours, may play in the movement of fouling species (Nall et al 2015).…”

An Algorithm for the Generation of Biofouled Surfaces for Applications in Marine Hydrodynamics

“…The increased cost in most cases is a result of the excessive fuel needs, caused by a significant increase in the frictional resistance of submerged surfaces due to biofouling [20]. Loxton et al [10] reported the e ect of marine biofouling on marine renewable energy devices. They stated that biofouling can reduce the energy extraction e ciency of wave or tidal energy harvesting devices, as it can increase the e ective diameter of their components, causing an increase in drag and inertia.…”