This background noise assessment of the EMEC wave site has been produced by a
consortium of Loughborough University, Chickerell BioAcoustics, the National Physical
Laboratory and SMRU Ltd. The work is part of a contract from the European Marine Energy
Centre (EMEC), Orkney, Scotland. The aim of this document is to set out the methodology
used and present results of the noise field assessment of the Billia Croo wave test site.
The site itself is used as a test centre for wave energy converter (WEC) systems with a
variety of seabed hubs for device deployment and testing. A noise contribution across the
site prior to device installation is required to inform the regulatory process for the
installation and operation of WECs. This assessment will also inform the development of an
underwater noise measurement methodology to be developed under contract by the above
partners for WEC operation noise characteristics and forms part of a number of on-going
acoustic research programmes taking place at the four EMEC test sites.
The wave test site itself is an open sea-way with maximum water depths of 60-70 m leading
up to the beach at Billia Croo. Background noise contributions are likely from a wide variety
of sources including sea-state / weather variation, site mooring systems, boat traffic, etc,
and as such are likely to be highly variable both temporally and spatially. The measurement
methodology and subsequent data analysis used was designed to allow assessment of
spatial and temporal variations in noise levels across the site. Data included in this
assessment comes from three measurement trials conducted in June and July 2010 and May
2011.