A new report highlighting the significant marine energy potential of the waters around the UK will help the industry to advance plans for wave and tidal projects.
The UK’s Crown Estate believes that there is the potential for up to 118 GW of tidal and wave energy capacity around the UK, with most wave energy resources sited in Scottish waters as well as southwest England and Wales.
The Crown Estate – which manages the seabed around the UK – hopes that the report will help marine energy technology and project development companies to accelerate their business plans.
“This report reflects our strategic interest in supporting development of wave and tidal projects around the UK,” said Rob Hastings, Director of the Crown Estate’s Energy and Infrastructure Portfolio. “We hope it is a useful reference for both companies advancing development plans and government bodies implementing industry support measures.”
The reports estimates that the UK has up to 27 GW of wave energy potential and 91 GW of tidal resources. It says that wave resources are continuously distributed around the northwest of Scotland, southwest Wales and southwest England, whereas tidal resources occur at a set of discrete sites all around the UK.
The UK’s tidal resources are split among tidal stream (32 GW), tidal range barrage schemes (45 GW) and tidal range lagoon schemes (14 GW).
“While the science of wave and tidal resource assessment is still emerging, and future work will clarify the resources that are practically available, it is clear that wave and tidal energy could contribute substantially to the UK's electricity needs,” commented Hastings. “Improving understanding about the extent and locations of resources will help to accelerate development in a sustainable way.”
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