Marine Energy Challenge Completed
Marine energy technologies harness the natural power in our seas and oceans. Marine energy could provide up to 20 per cent of the UK’s current electricity needs and become cost-competitive with conventional and other renewable types of energy generation in the long term – given the right level of investment now.
The Carbon Trust has just completed an 18-month £3m programme looking at the potential for the development of a marine energy industry. The programme brought together technology developers, engineers and academics to look at the costs and performance of real marine energy devices and to find ways to improve them. Entec worked as technical advisers to the Carbon Trust and worked closely with all the engineering contractors and the technology developers. Entec helped the Carbon Trust by guiding and managing the programme and in analysing the very valuable results obtained.
On 25 January the Carbon Trust published these results in a report call ‘Future Marine Energy’. These were presented to over 150 people from industry, financing organisations, government and technology developers. Richard Boud from Entec and John Callaghan from the Carbon Trust presented the technologies, economics and the findings from the work.
John said: “The UK leads the world in marine renewables technology development. Given our superb natural resources and long-standing experience in offshore oil and gas, ship-building and power generation, the UK is in prime position to accelerate commercial progress in the marine energy sector and secure economic value by selling marine energy devices, developing wave and tidal stream farms and creating new revenues from electricity generation.”
He added: “Our report indicates that wave and tidal stream resources could ultimately supply up to a fifth of UK energy needs. Given the sector’s potential as a low carbon and indigenous energy source, growing the marine renewables market is an exciting prospect as part of the UK’s fight against climate change. However, public support and private investment is needed now to step up the pace of marine renewables development in the UK and ensure it meets its potential.”
“ This work represents a significant milestone in the development of marine energy. Technologies that are currently being developed have potential but some of the challenges they face in bringing forward world-leading renewable energy projects are now much clearer.”
Entec will continue to work with players and those interested in the marine energy industry by providing independent technical and environmental advice on marine and other renewable energy projects. Call Richard Boud on 01189 036 606.
Web links
The Carbon Trust home page
http://www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/
Press release on the Marine Energy Challenge
http://www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/carbontrust/about/press_releases/25%20Jan%20Marine%20report.pdf
The report
http://www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/carbontrust/about/publications/FutureMarineEnergy.pdf
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