The growth of marine renewable energy in all its forms means more work for ports, marine contractors and workboat operators.

During the period of economic uncertainty brought on by the oil price crashes in the 1970s, waves were seen as having potential as an alternative source of primary energy. As a result, the UK Government, and several other national governments across the world, funded programmes of research into wave energy. Though famous devices such as Stephen Salter’s ‘duck’ were invented during that time, R&D development in the wave sector eventually suffered a downturn.

Thirty years on, however, and marine energy is once again heralded as having a potentially great contribution to make towards energy generation in the UK. There are now several important reasons for policy to encourage the marine energy sector. More than ever, climate change is a driver of policy in the UK, and provides an imperative for low carbon renewable energy technologies.

Another reason relates to security of supply concerns, with recent claims of society having reached peak oil, alongside anxiety in the UK over the exhaustion of North Sea gas. On top of these first two reasons can be placed a third – namely, that the UK, and particularly Scotland under its new SNP administration, has a continuing desire for economic growth. The marine energy sector is thought to be capable of contributing to all three areas, with zero carbon emissions, a vast domestic resource, and a potentially global export market for devices, similar to that for the wind energy sector.

Certainly the UK, and Scotland in particular, has an excellent marine resource at its doorstep. The 2001 report commissioned by the Scottish Government, ‘Scotland’s Renewable Resource’, estimated that 14 GW of wave energy and 7.5 GW of tidal stream energy could be captured from Scottish waters at a reasonable cost to consumers. Looking at the UK more broadly, the Carbon Trust reported in their Future Marine Energy publication that the UK could meet 15 – 20% of its electricity demand from wave and tidal stream energy. The Pentland Firth and the shores of the Western, Orkney and Shetland Islands have all been pinpointed as areas where the resource is particularly strong

Yet how close is industry to achieving its potential? Several important mile-stones have been met since the turn of the century. The first grid connected, commercial scale wave development in the UK started generating in 2000, in the shape of the Limpet oscillating water column on the Islay coast. The world’s first large scale, grid connected testbed for marine energy devices, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), is located in Orkney and has been providing vital services to the marine energy sector for years, with a wave test site opened in 2003 and a tidal site opened this autumn. The UK has become the base for a significant number of device developers, and has drawn international recognition for its leadership in the sector. A variety of commercial scale wave projects are hoped to be constructed off the coasts Pembrokeshire, the Western Isles and Orkney over 2008 and 2009.

Clearly, marine energy is emerging as a successful sector. Yet there are a variety of challenges to its full development. Firstly, though commercial projects are expected before the end of the decade, the sector still requires higher levels of funding than more mature renewable technology markets in order to remain commercially viable. Secondly, the availability of grid connections to the remote areas of greatest resource will continue to be an issue for the sector. Thirdly, as growing numbers of commercial projects are proposed, uncertainties over future planning and consents arrangements will become more pressing.

In many ways, 2008 will be a critical year in determining the success of the marine energy sector. In relation to finance, the sector will keenly await the outcome of the UK ‘Reform of the Renewables Obligation’ consultation, as well as announcements on grant funding. In relation to grid, all renewables sectors in Scotland will await the outcome of the inquiry into the Beauly-Denny power line proposal, expected in Autumn 2008. In relation to planning, 2008 may see the publication of the draft UK Marine Bill, important for its proposals on the framework for consenting marine energy projects.

What is certain is that without engagement with other sea users, sustainable development of the marine sector will be extremely difficult, regardless of the outcome of the above developments. As such, in 2008 the marine energy sector will be making every effort to cooperate and discuss common issues with all parties that have a stake in the maritime environment.

Morna Cannon is Development Officer (Marine & Bioenergy) at Scottish Renewables.