The UK is the global leader in the development of Marine Renewable energy. This source of renewable energy is one of the most reliable and predictable of all. With technologies now proving their viability and plans for commercial deployment of projects now gathering momentum this industry is on the dawn of a new and very profitable era.
In the race to deploy tidal stream technology, there are three clear front-runners: the UK, Canada, and the US. They have key demonstration projects, the first array developments planned, and relatively good policy support.
In the UK, Tidal energy devices will soon to be deployed at multi megawatt scale, producing commercially viable ‘green’ electricity by 2015 predicts first minister Alex Salmond, marking a major breakthrough for the industry.
Meanwhile, Canada and the US have stepped up their efforts to exploit their significant tidal regions in areas such as the Bay of Fundy and Vancouver Inlets, with companies like Ocean Renewable Power progressing numerous projects.
South Korea leads the Asian charge, although the focus has largely been on tidal barrage schemes.
While there has been some new funding for tidal, such as the European Regional Development Fund’s support for Tidal Energy’s DeltaStream project, typically these can only be secured with some element of matching private investment. However, the industry has still proven itself as a feasible and workable form of energy production and has moved forward rapidly.
It is therefore imperative that the industry continues to engage with other experienced and capable organisations such as large scale manufacturers and Utility companies to help deliver fully functioning arrays.
That’s why key representatives from Vattenfall, Scottish Power Renewables, TGL (Rolls Royce), MCT, Atlantis Resources, Hammerfest Strom, Voith, Pulse, Tocardo, Tidal Energy Ltd, EMEC, FORCE (Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy), Narec, Gurit and many more are coming together to discuss their experiences and ideas for cost effectively installing, operating and maintaining small scale multi megawatt arrays alongside 200 other industry individuals.
For more details about the marine challenges and solutions available, go to: http://www.tidaltoday.com/tidal-conference/
