Scotland is rapidly becoming a global leader in tidal energy, with ambitious projects and cutting-edge innovations driving the sector forward. Tidal power, which harnesses the energy of the sea’s currents, holds significant untapped potential to meet a large portion of global energy demand. While still emerging compared to wind and solar, tidal energy offers a key advantage: its predictability, which could make it a cornerstone of sustainable energy solutions worldwide.
Scotland’s Role in Tidal Energy Innovation
Scotland’s efforts in the tidal energy sector have been groundbreaking. The country is home to the world’s first tidal stream array and is now working towards achieving 700MW of installed tidal energy capacity by 2035. According to Matthew Finn, commercial director at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland has the necessary resources, projects, and technological expertise to become a global hub for tidal energy.
The Potential of Tidal Power
Tidal energy’s global potential is substantial, with estimates suggesting that worldwide tidal generation could reach up to 1,200 terawatt-hours annually. However, despite its long history, tidal technology has faced challenges when scaling up to commercial levels. Unlike offshore wind, tidal energy still requires more technological refinement and standardization, which has made establishing a reliable supply chain difficult.
But this challenge is being addressed head-on at EMEC, which has been at the forefront of testing tidal technologies since its establishment in 2003. Located in Orkney, a region known for some of the strongest tidal currents in the world, EMEC offers a world-class facility for testing and developing tidal energy devices. The centre has been instrumental in bringing tidal technologies to life, even producing green hydrogen from tidal energy in collaboration with developers.
Overcoming Barriers to Growth
Tidal energy faces several hurdles, including high development costs and the complexity of scaling up technology. But EMEC’s extensive testing facilities, supported by £42m in funding, allow developers to de-risk projects, refine their devices, and test components like turbines, cables, and substations. As EMEC’s Finn explains, this makes the centre crucial for developers looking to prove the viability of their technologies before deploying them at scale.
“We focus on providing the necessary support alongside our established infrastructure, ensuring that developers can prove their machines at scale,” Finn said. “This contributes significantly to investor confidence and ultimately to the commercialization of tidal energy.”
Another crucial aspect of the development process is monitoring tidal technology’s impact on marine life. EMEC has conducted nearly two decades of studies on wildlife interactions, with encouraging results so far. Though it’s an area of ongoing research, there has been no evidence of significant negative impacts, and there is hope that as the industry matures, tidal energy could even benefit the local ecosystem.
Scotland’s Flagship Projects: MeyGen and Beyond
Among the leading tidal energy projects is MeyGen, owned by SAE Renewables, which is developing the world’s largest tidal stream project with a potential capacity of 398MW. The first phase, consisting of four 1.5MW turbines, is already operational, generating predictable power to the UK grid. As of September 2024, MeyGen’s turbines have produced over 68 gigawatt-hours of electricity, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all tidal stream power globally.
“MeyGen is aiming for 200MW of installed capacity,” says Fraser Johnson, Operations and Maintenance Manager at MeyGen. “And we’re working towards 500MW in Scotland, which could provide predictable baseload power to the grid.”
MeyGen’s success is a significant milestone for the sector, but it also highlights the scale of the challenges ahead. The tidal energy industry is still in its infancy, but with continuous backing from the Scottish Government, a supportive regulatory environment, and increasing investment in clean energy, Scotland is poised to be a leader in the sector.
European Projects Paving the Way
Scotland’s tidal energy sector is also attracting global attention. Several European Union-backed projects are set to be demonstrated at EMEC in the coming years, including:
- EURO-TIDES: A 9.6MW project by Orbital Marine Power, set to begin in 2027, that aims to upscale floating tidal technology.
- SEASTAR: A 4MW project by Nova Innovation, which will feature an array of 16 tidal turbines—among the highest concentration of turbines at any tidal site globally.
Both projects contribute to the ambitious EU target of 1GW of marine energy by 2030, increasing to 40GW by 2050.
Smaller-Scale Projects and Local Impact
In addition to large-scale initiatives, smaller tidal projects are making strides, particularly in providing energy to local coastal communities. One such project is Flex Marine Power’s SwimmerTurbine, a 50kW device designed to power around 40 homes. With £1.87m in government funding, Flex Marine Power is focused on delivering tidal energy’s social, environmental, and financial benefits to smaller communities.
A Global Vision for Tidal Energy
Scotland’s ongoing advancements in tidal energy technology are setting the stage for the global deployment of tidal power. With significant natural resources in regions such as Asia, Europe, Canada, and Alaska, the potential for Scottish tidal technology to be deployed worldwide is immense.
As Finn notes, “The ultimate goal is to see tidal projects deployed all over the world, utilizing our technology to harness the vast tidal resources available globally. We’ve already laid the groundwork, and now it’s about scaling up to meet the world’s energy needs.”
