Fuels, Minerals and the Sea: The Hidden Ocean Costs of Energy

Jane Marsh

The rise of renewable energy has the world setting its sights on the ocean. The vast sea is proving critical in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean power. However, you should know that its contribution comes with a price, particularly for the marine environment. 

From offshore drilling to deep-sea mining to mineral exploration, energy sourcing has severe implications for fragile ocean ecosystems. Human activities cause water pollution and endanger coastal communities, encouraging conservationists to rethink where and how energy is derived.

How the Ocean Supports the Global Energy Supply Chain 

Oceans are both a channel for energy transport and a reservoir of untapped power waiting to be harnessed. Each day, massive cargo ships cross the sea, transporting fossil fuels and extracted minerals to refineries and factories on each continent. 

Deep-seabed mining activity is increasing as the demand for essential minerals like cobalt and manganese grows, each a key ingredient in renewable energy technologies, batteries and electronics. In April 2025, the United States issued an executive order to expand exploration of critical minerals and strengthen national security and economic prosperity. The policy prioritizes rapid yet responsible development and investment in these efforts. 

Additionally, nearly 12,000 offshore drilling rigs dot coastlines and deep waters, drawing oil and gas from the seabed. In the coming decade, thousands could reach the end of their lifespan with wells running dry. 

It's no coincidence that much of the world's energy infrastructure sits in energetic marine environments. In fact, long-term datasets suggest that the area between latitudes 30 degrees south and 60 degrees south contributes about 52.3% of global wave power from the South Pacific, South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. The substantial energy potential is why so many shipping lanes, offshore platforms and renewable energy projects are located there. 

Hidden Environmental Costs — Extraction and Pollution  

Because ocean energy is a means of powering your everyday life, you might easily overlook the hidden costs. For instance, offshore oil and gas drilling is as much a high-stakes gamble technically as it is financially and environmentally. 

U.S. oil companies typically pay about 20% in royalties to mineral rights owners. The remaining 80% of production revenue is allocated toward drilling, completion and production costs, amounting to millions of dollars for every well. Under this framework, these large organizations prioritize maximizing profits and recovering investments, often at the expense of environmental protections. 

The risks are well-documented. You might remember the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion was the largest marine oil spill in the nation's history, releasing 134 million gallons of oil over 87 days and causing significant harm to the surrounding ecosystem. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency won a record-setting $5.5 billion settlement against BP Exploration & Production for the explosion and up to $8.8 billion in natural resource degradation. However, this doesn't repair the lasting effects on wildlife, fisheries and coastlines that scientists continue studying today. Even a nuanced operation that produces subtle noise and light pollution can disrupt marine habitats.

Deep-sea mining for minerals also presents problems for the ocean, stirring up sediment plumes, releasing toxins and threatening species. Meanwhile, global shipping may cause accidental or chronic leaks, which can poison fragile coral reefs and harm vulnerable wildlife, leading to costly cleanups.

The Race for Critical Minerals — Renewable Energy's Ocean Footprint 

The demand for cobalt, nickel, lithium and rare earth metals has skyrocketed as global manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries ramps up. The minerals enhance the storage and transmission of clean power, yet sourcing them is complex.

Mining these resources on land comes with damaging ecological and social impacts. As a result, countries are turning their attention to the deep sea, with mining targeting mineral-rich nodules and crusts on the ocean floor. One study says 21 billion metric tons of mineral aggregate nodules lie on the seabed of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the North Pacific alone.

While supporters of deep-seabed mining believe it could help meet the world's energy needs without causing terrestrial devastation, you should know that this disruptive activity could result in irreversible harm to the aquatic environment. This is especially true since much of the ocean and its inhabitants remain unexplored, and many of these regions are not easily managed or regulated. 

The concern becomes whether the world is trading one ecological risk for another. Although propelling renewables is crucial for combating climate change, sourcing minerals safely and sustainably is critical for maintaining ocean health and biodiversity.

Cumulative Impacts on Ocean Health and Coastal Communities

Constant energy extraction and transport operations cause pollution that is easy for you to visualize, such as oil spills and other mishaps. However, every deep-seabed mining project, erected drilling rig and traversing cargo vessel adds stress to vulnerable ocean life. 

The mechanical hum from global shipping has dire consequences for whales and other marine species. According to one study, the southern resident orca population would be 30% higher if noise pollution from ocean cargo fleets hadn't grown by over 50% since 1998. The noise pollution interrupts communications, navigation, feeding and mating for these social animals. 

Meanwhile, chemical pollution and habitat destruction devastate fisheries and reefs, contaminating the seafood you eat with mercury and other metals that render them unsafe for human consumption. These incidents aren't isolated, either, as they are an extra layer to climate change, rising sea levels and ocean acidification.

The impacts can cause immediate economic and social fallout for coastal communities. For example, the Deepwater Horizon spills resulted in a 25% to 50% decline in large fish populations and up to a 70% decline for reef species, with a recovery outlook estimated at 10 to 30 years. The effects of these disasters lead to disrupted employment and lower income, food insecurity, poverty and health problems.

Indigenous communities often experience these impacts before others, especially since they maintain deep cultural and economic ties to the ocean. Despite their centuries-old knowledge about environmental stewardship, they're not often given a seat at the table for energy policy and transboundary water governance discussions.

Solutions and Policy Pathways for Ocean-Friendly Energy 

International regulations are key to protecting oceans from the hidden costs of energy. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Seabed Authority are just a few examples of the legal frameworks established for ocean use and setting ecological safeguards during exploration and exploitation. 

Likewise, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships aims to reduce marine pollution from shipping vessels, whether from accidents or general operations. The treaty covers oil, toxic liquid substances and other harmful contaminants from packaged form, sewage, debris and emissions.

In addition to policies, innovative technologies improve resource extraction while minimizing environmental damage. Autonomous remotely operated vehicles and sensors safely inspect offshore drilling rigs for leaks, while also aiding the exploration of seabeds without disturbing them. 

Conservation projects are equally important for ocean health. You may have heard of restoration initiatives that include replanting seagrass and rebuilding coral reefs, since they are gaining popularity. Scientists also have an imperative role in advocating for stronger protections, supporting research and raising public awareness.

Charting a Sustainable Course for Energy and Oceans 

You should be aware that powering the world is harming the oceans. From oil spills to marine habitat degradation and impacts on wildlife, the aquatic environment is bearing a heavy burden. It's more important than ever to create a sustainable path forward through new policies and practices for a healthier ocean.

References

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