1 | Program Name or Ancillary Texteere.energy.gov Water Power Peer Review Underwater Active Acoustic Monitoring (AAM) Network for Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Projects Dr. Peter J. Stein Scientific Solutions, Inc. November 2, 2011 A joint project being conducted with the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC)

2 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Purpose, Objectives, & Integration  The intent of this project is to advance active acoustic monitoring (AAM) of the underwater environment around marine renewable energy projects.  High probability of detection, localization, tracking, and classification of underwater objects at a reasonable cost is required to implement many offshore renewable energy projects. Examples are:  Demonstrating the lack of harm to marine mammals and fish by hydro-turbines  Preventing harm to marine mammals during hydro-turbine operation  Preventing harm to marine mammals during wind farm construction  Tracking floating debris that might result in structural damage to hydro-turbines  Demonstration of this technology will be accomplished in part by integrating a prototype system with the ORPC TidGen TM installation in Cobscook Bay, Maine

3 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Technical Approach  The primary technical approach is to adapt the Swimmer Detection Sonar Network (SDSN) developed by SSI for use by the marine hydrokinetic (MHK) energy industry  An effective AAM for offshore renewable energy applications has basically the same requirements as swimmer detection sonar -- Automatic detection, tracking, localization, and classification of low target strength objects in a shallow water harbor environment  Swimmer detection sonar systems are fairly well developed, however most are very expensive and classification is still an issue  SSI has been working since 2002 to develop a cost effective swimmer detection sonar system based on networking simple inexpensive sonar “nodes”  The SSI/ORPC AAM program is based on leveraging the on-going SDSN development  The key issues being addressed are:  Operation in a high current environment  Adverse effects on marine mammals due to the sound transmission  Altering the signal processing for tracking and classification of marine mammals, fish, and floating debris

4 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Swimmer Detection Sonar Network

5 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Next Generation Node This version of the G2 node operates from kHz

6 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Next Generation Node for DOE  Design work started for DoD application where transmit frequency is limited to above 90 kHz  Electronics the same as kHz version with minor component changes  Transducers designed and tested under a DoD effort  Balances “marine mammal friendliness” with detection range  Node is now fully designed and ready for fabrication  Significant integration software work has been performed and continues This version of the G2 node operates from kHz

7 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov AAM Installation Near TidGen TM Unit  Planned to be co-located with SIMRAD imaging sonar  AAM system locates and tracks  Imaging sonar identifies  At this point we cannot afford to build a full rosette of 20 nodes  Planning on a 6 node installation

8 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Plan, Schedule, & Budget Schedule Initiation date: 9/1/2010 Planned completion date: 9/30/2012 –NEPA review has resulted in delays Milestones for FY11 has been to complete the design and integration. This is indeed substantially complete and we are ready to build the nodes. We are currently holding pending resolution of the NEPA issues. With submittal of the ORPC FERC application we expect this to be resolved in the next few months Budget: Extent of software integration required, transducers, and delays have escalated the costs. We can only build 6 nodes. However, this will still allow us to meet the program objectives. Budget History FY2009FY2011FY2012 DOECost-shareDOECost-shareDOECost-share 00$400k$240k$200k$160k

9 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Accomplishments and Results  High frequency G2 node design complete  Integration of G2 node into SDSN system near completion  Detection and tracking tests successfully conducted in Cobscook Bay using the G2 hardware  Ready for fabrication once NEPA issues have been resolved  The SDSN technology appears to work in the high- current environment of Cobscook Bay. The potential for problems in this environment was a high risk for the program

10 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Testing in Cobscook Bay

11 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Existing nodes on ORPC Beta Unit

12 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Test Targets  Two targets:  TS = -5 to +5 dB re 1 m (mid-size whale)  TS = -20 to -15 dB sphere (small odonocete/pinneped)

13 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Tracking small target

14 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov G2LF and G2HF Node Testing

15 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov G2 HF Node Tracking Large Target  Range is 500m, 100m range arcs.  Demonstrates tracking of the large target out to 500 m

16 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Challenges to Date  Settling the NEPA issues and permitting in general  We have decided not to apply for 24/7 operation  Would require and EA and additional studies  Wait until technology more developed and proven  Will rely on Letter of Concurrence (LOC) already issued by NOAA for 40 hours of operation per month  Demonstrating effectiveness of SDSN technology in a high current environment  Eventually the largest challenge will be classification of objects  Potentially aided by near-field imaging sonar being deployed by U. Maine in conjunction with ORPC

17 | Wind and Water Power Programeere.energy.gov Next Steps  Fabricate and install 6 nodes in Cobscook Bay along with ORPC TidGen TM unit  Installation in Spring 2012  Acquire data and develop signal processing as time and funding permits  Project completion in September 2012