What Is Renewable Marine Energy?

Renewable marine energy embraces a raft of technologies including wave, tidal and breakwater barriers.

Wave power denotes the capturing of ocean surface wave energy for the generation of electricity. Wave energy, unlike wind power, is entirely predictable and for the UK a potentially large natural store of 'free' energy. A number of wave power devices are currently installed around Europe and the UK and producing electricity on a commercial scale.

Being situated in the Gulf Stream and the Atlantic, the west coast of the UK in particular is well placed to tap into wave power. Other marine renewable energy sources are tidal flow and breakwater devices.

A key area in developing marine energy in the UK is Scotland's northern and western seaboards. Potentially, Scotland has the natural resources to generate around 1,300 megawatts per annum from marine energy sources.

Compared to other forms of renewable energy such as wind power, though, renewable marine energy is still in its early days.