Linking international technical specifications for acoustic characterization of marine energy converter sounds with environmental compliance criteria

Haxel, Joseph H. (ORCID:0000000273864761); Zang, Xiaoqin; McVey, James R.; Chicco, Carola; Cotter, Emma D. (ORCID:0000000191629063); Picciulin, Marta; Staines, Garrett J.

doi:10.1038/s41598-026-52491-x

DOE OSTI · 3733647

Linking international technical specifications for acoustic characterization of marine energy converter sounds with environmental compliance criteria

Haxel, Joseph H. (ORCID:0000000273864761)·Zang, Xiaoqin·McVey, James R.·Chicco, Carola·Cotter, Emma D. (ORCID:0000000191629063)·Picciulin, Marta·Staines, Garrett J.

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Abstract

As new ocean energy technologies emerge and are deployed for testing and operations, sound emissions are a potential concern for environmental effects to marine life. Consistent acoustic measurement and data analysis methods can help promote comparisons of technologies and transferability between project sites. In 2022, acoustic emissions from a prototype scale wave energy converter (WEC) were characterized for a range of environmental conditions and power generation states in the coastal waters off southern California using a set of international technical specifications. Results from the international technical specification analyses were applied to United States regulatory threshold criteria for acoustic impacts to marine mammals and examined in the context of European underwater noise monitoring guidelines. Weighted 24 hour cumulative sound exposure levels SEL24h calculated from the highest power generation state WEC sound pressure levels were often more than 20 dB below threshold criteria for temporary threshold shifts in five relevant marine mammal hearing groups. Following European Union recommendations for analyses and reporting, WEC sound characterization in third octave bands centered at 63 Hz and 125 Hz show clear spatial decay of WEC-generated noise, with more pronounced attenuation at 63 Hz, and a less marked but still detectable gradient at 125 Hz, collectively suggesting a relatively confined acoustic footprint under the observed conditions. The value of the international technical specification approach is highlighted by the isolation of WEC sounds from the surrounding soundscape. This allows for a robust characterization of acoustic emissions through a range of device power generation and sea states. Furthermore, in threshold-based regulatory contexts like the U.S., this facilitates direct evaluation of source contributions, while in broader monitoring frameworks used in the E.U. it provides a reproducible foundation for assessing the contribution of emerging ocean energy technologies to the underwater acoustic environment.

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Haxel, Joseph H. (ORCID:0000000273864761), Zang, Xiaoqin, McVey, James R., Chicco, Carola, Cotter, Emma D. (ORCID:0000000191629063), Picciulin, Marta, Staines, Garrett J.. 2026-08-12. Linking international technical specifications for acoustic characterization of marine energy converter sounds with environmental compliance criteria. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-52491-x

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