1 | Program Name or Ancillary Text eere.energy.gov

Water Power Peer Review

Active Acoustic Deterrence of Migratory Whales

Steve Kopf, Program Manager

Pacific Energy Ventures, LLCskopf@peventuresllc.com(484) 459-8200November 1, 2011

2 | Wind and Water Power Program eere.energy.gov

Gray Whales 101

Collision/Entanglement Risk: 20,000 whales x 2 trips per year x 20,000 lb/whale = A lot of blubber!

3 | Wind and Water Power Program eere.energy.gov

Purpose, Objectives, & Integration

Challenges, Barriers and Knowledge Gaps Potential Environmental Effect: Collision/entanglement w/mooring lines Baseline Data Gap: Migratory paths of Gray Whales (OWET 2008) Behavior Data Gap: Gray Whale Response to Acoustic Deterrence

Phase A of Northbound

Feb 26 - Apr 10, 2008

Phase B of Northbound

Apr 11 – May 29, 2008

Southbound

Jan 13 – Feb 25, 2008

Migration Route for

Eastern Pacific Gray Whales

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Purpose, Objectives, & Integration

Alignment to Program’s Mission and Objectives Acceleration of clean, affordable energy generation that is both

economically viable and environmental responsible. Provides mitigation technology for potential show stopper.

Integration with Other Programs Planning and Assessment Framework: ww.advancedH2Opower.com OWET Baseline Study: www.oregonwave.org

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Technical Approach

Project Objective and Technical Approach Project Objective: Test the effectiveness of an acoustic deterrent

mechanism in deflecting migratory gray whales around wave energy structures.

Technical Approach: Intermittently operate acoustic deterrence device at Yaquina head and measure behavioral response changes using the same theodolite tracking methodology used for the 2008 baseline study.

Key Issues To Be Addressed and Their Significance Effectiveness of Deterrence: The test will verify the effectiveness of an

acoustic signal to ‘nudge’ whales from a project area.Significance – validates mitigation approach IF mitigation is required

Unique Aspects of Approach Collaborative effort between OSU/MMI and PEV Leverages more than $300K in previous OWET funding

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Technical Approach

Deterrence device deployed in 45-m water depth – operates intermittently.

Research team positioned at base of Yaquina Head Light.

Spotter initiates contact with binoculars and relays approximate position to Theodolite operator

Theodolite measures inclination and distance to target.

Computer calculates position and predicts next surfacing.

Data analyzed to compare statistical presence at 500m and 2 km from sound source.

7 | Wind and Water Power Program eere.energy.gov

Technical Approach

Sound Projector located approximately mid-water

400kg Mellinger Lander Anchor

Batteries and electronics located on anchor

Rechargeable battery Sound Level 170dB at

source 1 sec pulse per minute for

6 hours per day Surface marker with

Carmanah light per USCG PATON regs

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Plan, Schedule, & Budget

Schedule Initiation date: September 1, 2009 Missed 2009/2010 migration due to contract and NOAA permit delays. Missed 2010/2011 migration due to equipment failure. Ready to go for 2011/2012 migration! Planned completion date: October 2012

Major Milestones Task 1 Permits – All Permits Received - November 2010 Task 2 Research – Acoustic Device (rev 2) Complete – October 2011 Task 2 Research – Data collection – late Dec 2011 or early Jan 2012

Budget No variances at this time. OSU able to absorb equipment replacement cost Estimated Expended Budget to Date: $333,537

Budget HistoryFY2009 FY2010 FY2011

DOE Cost-share DOE Cost-share DOE Cost-share

$593,846 $0

9 | Wind and Water Power Program eere.energy.gov

Accomplishments and Results

Task 1 – Permits Received Oregon Department of State Land’s Short Term Access

Agreement on 9/30/2010. Received Army Corps of Engineers permit on 10/26/2010. Received NOAA Level B harassment permit on 11/1/2010. Received Oregon State University’s Animal Care and Use Permit on

11/17/2010. Received Letter of authorization from the United States Coast Guard in lieu

of the Private Aid to Navigation on 11/18/2010 after providing more detail on the specific navigation light that was selected.

Copies of Permits have been posted to the MHK KnowledgeBase at:

http://www.advancedh2opower.com/whale/Site%20Pages/Permits.aspx

et Status: Milestone is Complete – all permits received!

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Accomplishments and Results

Task 2 – Research Deployed first generation device – no data collected as a result

of a structural failure – January 2011 Conducted failure mode analysis of first generation electronic

enclosure – February 2011 Redesigned electronics and enclosure – June 2011 Fabricated sound source and electronics – October 2011 Completed bench testing of sound source – October 2011

et

Status: Task is on schedule and

budget per revised plan.

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Challenge/Resolution

Electronics Enclosure Challenge – Reliability of electronics enclosure (failed on first

deployment) Resolution – Redesign enclosure and pressure testing prior to

deployment.

Weather Challenge – Initial deployment and observation limited

Resolution – Hope for sunny skis and fair seas!

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Next Steps

Task 2 – Research Proof Testing of Electronics Enclosure w/o electronics – October 2011 Proof testing of electronics enclosure w/electronics – October 2011 Train observation staff – December 2011 Deploy device – late December 2011 or early January 2012

Challenge – Need weather window

Collect Data – through end of May 2012 Analyze Data – Summer 2012

Task 2 – Deployment of Device Present results at OWET conference – September 2012 Publish Final Report – October 2012

Future Scope Develop device to be integrated with WEC array and SCADA system

(TRL 7/8)