We provide here the text of an article published by Renewable Energy World International, 30th August 2012, which provides a thorough review of the main companies now developing marine renewable energy technologies in UK seas. Both the range of technologies and their potential are considerable.

As Britain strives to meet European renewable energy targets, the world’s largest offshore wind farm is rising from the waves off the coasts of Kent and Essex.
article in The Daily Telegraph Saturday Magazine, 28th July 2012, author Edward Platt, which reports on the near completion of the London Array offshore windfarm, the world’s largest, and the current condition of the UK offshore wind energy industry.

A comprehensive listing of all UK offshore wind farms, those now operational, now under construction, approved, withdrawn after approval or after submission, submitted and site awarded can be seen by visiting www.bwea.com/ukwed/offshore.asp

From ‘The Engineer’ of 11th January ’10 comes this story by Siobham Wagner entitled ‘Humber rides the Wave’ of a demonstration of a new tidal-energy machine called ‘Neptune Proteus NP1000′ soon to be deployed in the Humber Estuary.

Approval is imminent for a £100 billion investment into third-generation windfarms that will include 1,000 turbines to be placed by Scottish Power and Sweden’s state-owned Vattenfall 15 miles off the Norfolk coast. But construction of the massive project may not start until 2018.

There are plans to generate a synthetic fuel gas by gently burning coal deposits under the seabed of North and North-East Norfolk and other UK coastal areas.

The government is consulting not about a final decision, but over which projects should be taken forward on the shortlist for further study — or which ones should be added. Marinet supports much opinion and local people in large majority who want the “megabarrage” dropped from the shortlist.

The Carbon Trust’s Future Marine Energy (January 2006) gave a low figure for the total UK resource and relatively high costs for power from marine currents. How reliable are its projections?

The proposal to construct a barrage across The Wash has brought about a whole new debate over the apparent conflict of interests between those who wish to see protection of people and property as Global Warming escalates sea rise, and those who wish to maintain such an internationally important wetland site free from damage.

The proposal to construct a barrage across The Wash has brought about a whole new debate over the apparent conflict of interests between those who wish to see protection of people and property as Global Warming escalates sea rise, and those who wish to maintain such an internationally important wetland site free from damage.

Npower Renewables have teamed up with Marine Current Turbines (MCT) to propose seven tidal current turbines generating 1.5 MW three km north-west of the coast of the Anglesey in an area known as the Skerries.

Research being conducted at Southampton University into marine renewable energy technology believes that a system developed by the French inventor Georges Claude in the 1920s could provide all the electricity and hydrogen that we need globally, along with large amounts of desalinated water.

Should we be building tidal barrages, tidal lagoons or marine current turbines in the Severn estuary and around UK coasts? Which technology is best, offering cost-efficient and reliable electricity generation and an acceptable environmental impact? This article looks at the facts and myths in this important debate.

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) aims to report on its tidal power studies early in October 2007.

Significant developments announced in the technology for generating electricity from tides and tidal currents in the UK.

Report of the Coastal Futures conference

“best prospect is tidal current turbines” — Barry & Vale FoE contribute to the debate

Organised in Bristol, 13th July 2006, by the Renewable Energy Association

A test site for wave power devices is proposed off the north Cornish coast has met with some alarmist press comment.

Norwegian firm Statkraft says subaquatic sea tide-harnessing machines could in future provide 3% of the EU’s electricity.