Evidence for Tidal Stream Energy

O2 turbine. Photo credit: Orbital Marine Power.

Orbital O2 Power Generation (Credit Orbital Marine) 3

What is tidal stream energy?

Tidal stream energy is the power generated by harnessing the flow of tides in our oceans and coastlines. These tides are created by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on our oceans, particularly in the shallower waters around Britain.

Tidal turbines draw power from streams in much the same way as wind turbines harness wind. The turbines – of varying designs – use the movement of tides to slowly rotate, activating a generator that produces electricity. The huge benefit is that whilst there is a sun, a moon and the oceans – tidal streams will continue to flow through the turbines in the seas around our coastlines.

This makes tidal stream energy an inexhaustible power source and predictable too.

40% reduction

in cost of tidal stream energy since 2016 without government support.

Up to 11%

of the UK’s current energy demand could be supplied by our tidal resources.

~1 Gigawatt

of tidal stream energy currently under development.

50 per cent

of Europe’s tidal resources are in the UK.

Up to 600 million

estimated cost savings from tidal stream energy in the energy system by 2050.

What makes the UK perfect for tidal stream energy?

The UK is on the continental shelf on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The shallower waters around our island give rise to strong and reliable tide and wave resources. In fact, the UK has 50% of Europe’s tidal resources and well over 10% of the global resource. There is sufficient tidal resource to supply 11% (Imperial College, London study) of the UK, reducing our need to import energy.

Tidal stream energy technology is now a well proven capability which has already delivered over 100GWh of green energy to the grid in the UK. Further, the 40% reduction in the cost of energy over a 5 year period – cited by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, whilst fossil fuel prices have soared, is making tidal a very commercial proposition.

Add the fact that Britain leads the world in this technology and around 80% of the manufacturing supply chain is in the UK, then export potential is huge. PTEC and the UK are in a strong position to become a global market leader with this vitally important method of green energy generation.

Discover the project

Nova T4. Photo credit: Ivan Hawick Photography

EMEC – Proving it’s possible

PTEC is supported by our partner, the European Marine Energy Centre Ltd (EMEC). Established in 2003, EMEC is the world’s leading facility for demonstrating and testing wave and tidal energy technologies in the sea.

It has provided a global test bed for over 30 tidal and wave technologies from all around the world. Tidal sites generating today in Great Britain (3 sites), France (3 sites), Canada, USA, Korea and Japan, are all using predominately British technology tested at EMEC.

Based in Orkney, Scotland, the various tidal and wave technologies at EMEC feed into what has become an almost wholly renewable energy grid on the island. This is while boosting local and national economies by £306.3 million gross value added (GVA) and creating 452 jobs. The Isle of Wight offers a similar opportunity.

Orbital Marine Power’s O2 turbine viewed from 1.5 miles distance. Photo credit: EMEC.

Supporting the Isle of Wight’s sustainable ambitions

The PTEC project could make a significant contribution to 5 of the 6 ‘Net Zero’ outcomes that the Isle of Wight Council is seeking in its ‘Mission Zero’ – Climate and Environmental Strategy.

The utilisation of the considerable tidal stream energy available to the south of the island would significantly increase the capacity of green energy available. When combined with the other sources of renewable energy, it is sufficient to make the island energy independent.

The other attraction of this approach is that the predictability of tidal stream energy combined with battery storage and better use of grid curtailment power would generate sufficient green energy to manufacture and store green hydrogen. Hydrogen that could be used in the other strategy outcomes sought; Transport (road and marine); Housing (heating houses and offices) and in the gas grid. This would significantly reduce the 3 largest sources of emissions in the Island.

Read the ‘Misson Zero’ strategy

Appealingly, such a system could be developed incrementally using the current grid and additional storage facilities as back up while the new technologies were installed and their costs reduced through ‘at scale’ deployment.

It would also be hugely beneficial to the island’s Environmental outcomes, in that the offshore site has a relatively small footprint and is largely unobtrusive. It is also increasingly evident that the slow turning tidal turbines do not damage marine life and arguably enhance the breeding by creating an artificial reef.

Highlight stats sourced from:

Imperial College Study: Role and value of tidal stream – D. Pudjianto, G. Strbac February 2022.

OREC Study: Quantifying the benefits of tidal stream energy to the wider UK energy system, June 2022.

OREC Study: Cost reduction pathway of tidal stream energy in the UK and France, October 2022.