General
Environmental Impacts of Extracting Energy From Rivers and Oceans
Credits: 6 PDH
PDH Course Description:
Energy can be extracted from the motion of waves, tides, rivers, ocean currents, and the temperature differences between water at the ocean surface and water far below. In the search for sustainable energy sources, these marine and “hydrokinetic” (concerned with kinetic energy of the motion of water) technologies are attracting increasing attention. As these technologies are studied more, however, many potential environmental concerns have arisen. The list is lengthy: plant and animal habitats will be altered when wave heights or velocities are changed. Bottom-dwelling organisms will be affected by sediment transport and deposition.Marine construction activities will generate underwater sounds sufficiently loud to drive away or actually kill some species of animals. Electromagnetic fields associated with generating devices and cables may interfere with species that depend on sensing electric fields for identifying prey or on sensing magnetic fields for navigation. Anti-biofouling coatings applied to structures may be toxic to some species. Moving turbine blades may strike and kill fish just as wind turbines kill birds. The transfer of large volumes of water between the ocean surface and depth will affect water temperatures, proportions of dissolved solids, nutrient content, and gas concentrations. The purpose of this course is to describe these environmental concerns and identify mitigation strategies that might be implemented.
Topics:
- alteration of currents and waves caused by hydrokinetic technologies
- issue of alteration of bottom substrates, sediment transport, and sediment deposition
- changes in benthic (bottom of the water body) habitats
- the principles and effects on animals of underwater noise
- the effects on animals of electromagnetic fields
- the need for care in introducing chemicals such as oils or anti-fouling coatings into the marine environment
- the danger of injuries and fatalities related to the striking of animals by moving blades
- the side effects of the need to transfer large quantities of water between ocean depths in ocean thermal energy conversion
- mitigation strategies for the different types of energy extraction devices
To take this course:
1.) Purchase Course:Option 1: Purchase single PDH credits
Option 2: Purchase the 12 month "Annual Membership" plan (unlimited)
Option 3: Purchase the 24 month "Biennial Membership" plan (unlimited)
2.) Enroll in Course:
Click Here: Enroll Me in this Course!
(must be logged into your user account)
3.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:
4.) Test: Upon reading the course Study Guide, please click below to take the quiz.
(Note: you must be enrolled in the course, and logged into your user account, in order to activate the quiz).
5.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the quiz, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
Intended Audience: This course is intended for civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers concerned with the design and construction of marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies.
Publication Source: This course is based on the U. S. Department of Energy document, “Report to Congress on the Potential Environmental Effects of Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Technologies,” December, 2009.
Course: Instructor
Environmental Impacts of Extracting Energy From Rivers and Oceans
Credits: 6 PDH
PDH Course Description:
Energy can be extracted from the motion of waves, tides, rivers, ocean currents, and the temperature differences between water at the ocean surface and water far below. In the search for sustainable energy sources, these marine and “hydrokinetic” (concerned with kinetic energy of the motion of water) technologies are attracting increasing attention. As these technologies are studied more, however, many potential environmental concerns have arisen. The list is lengthy: plant and animal habitats will be altered when wave heights or velocities are changed. Bottom-dwelling organisms will be affected by sediment transport and deposition.
Marine construction activities will generate underwater sounds sufficiently loud to drive away or actually kill some species of animals. Electromagnetic fields associated with generating devices and cables may interfere with species that depend on sensing electric fields for identifying prey or on sensing magnetic fields for navigation. Anti-biofouling coatings applied to structures may be toxic to some species. Moving turbine blades may strike and kill fish just as wind turbines kill birds. The transfer of large volumes of water between the ocean surface and depth will affect water temperatures, proportions of dissolved solids, nutrient content, and gas concentrations. The purpose of this course is to describe these environmental concerns and identify mitigation strategies that might be implemented.Topics:
- alteration of currents and waves caused by hydrokinetic technologies
- issue of alteration of bottom substrates, sediment transport, and sediment deposition
- changes in benthic (bottom of the water body) habitats
- the principles and effects on animals of underwater noise
- the effects on animals of electromagnetic fields
- the need for care in introducing chemicals such as oils or anti-fouling coatings into the marine environment
- the danger of injuries and fatalities related to the striking of animals by moving blades
- the side effects of the need to transfer large quantities of water between ocean depths in ocean thermal energy conversion
- mitigation strategies for the different types of energy extraction devices
To take this course:
1.) Purchase Course:
Option 1: Purchase single PDH credits
Option 2: Purchase the 12 month "Annual Membership" plan (unlimited)
Option 3: Purchase the 24 month "Biennial Membership" plan (unlimited)
2.) Enroll in Course:
Click Here: Enroll Me in this Course!
(must be logged into your user account)
3.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:
4.) Test: Upon reading the course Study Guide, please click below to take the quiz.
(Note: you must be enrolled in the course, and logged into your user account, in order to activate the quiz).
5.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the quiz, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
Intended Audience: This course is intended for civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers concerned with the design and construction of marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies.
Publication Source: This course is based on the U. S. Department of Energy document, “Report to Congress on the Potential Environmental Effects of Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Technologies,” December, 2009.
Course: Instructor