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Future Marine Energy

This report from the Carbon Trust presents the findings of a detailed study into the cost-competitiveness and potential growth of wave and tidal stream energy (marine renewables).

It follows the completion of the Marine Energy Challenge (MEC), a £3.0m, 18-month programme of directed engineering support to accelerate the development of marine renewable energy technologies.

The study sought to answer the following key questions:

• What affects the costs and performance of marine renewables,and at what costs can electricity be generated from waves and tidal streams today?
• Can the future costs of wave and tidal stream electricity be reduced to become cost-competitive with other renewables and conventional generation in the future?
• Can wave and tidal stream farms be developed to supply large quantities of electricity to the grid and make material contributions to energy supplies? What effect would this have on carbon emissions?

In addition to answering these questions, this report also:

• Summarises the MEC approach and its outcomes;
• Indicates the size of wave and tidal stream energy resources,the potential economic prize and status of technology development; and
• Presents the Carbon Trust’s overall conclusions on the marine renewables sector, identifying barriers to development and making recommendations for future support.

Click here to view the full report (pdf 601kb)

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The Carbon Trust works with UK business and the public sector to cut carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies. An independent company set up by Government to help the UK meet its climate change obligations, the Carbon Trust creates practical business-focused solutions to carbon emission reduction on energy efficiency, carbon management, and investment. Further details are available at www.thecarbontrust.co.uk.