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Tidal power in the United Kingdom

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Tidal power contributes a very small proportion of the electricity generation in the United Kingdom, but it could provide a meaningful amount of predictable renewable energy in future.

Several tidal stream turbines to harness currents flowing around the coastline have been developed and tested in the UK, and some of the world's first tidal stream arrays have been operating in Scotland since 2016. As of 2024, there is over 120 MW of tidal stream projected to be built by 2029.

Various proposals have also been developed in the UK for tidal range schemes, using barrages or lagoons, but none have been built.

Tidal power resource

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There are two main forms of tidal resource:

  • Tidal range, harnessing potential energy from the height difference between high and low tides, impounding water in a tidal barrage or lagoon.
  • Tidal stream, harnessing kinetic energy of the tidal streams and currents flowing around the coastline using free-stream turbines.

There could be up to 20 GW of tidal range resource in the UK, able to generate 30 TWh/year or around 12% of the UK's electricity demand.[1]

A recent review of the tidal stream resource in the UK and British Channel Islands supported the latest national-scale practical resource estimate of 34 TWh/year. At around 11.5 GW of installed capacity, this is equivalent to 11% of the UK demand.[2]

Tidal turbine development and testing in the UK

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See also: Development of tidal stream generators

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) was set up in 2003, and has pre-consented sites for testing wave power devices and tidal stream turbines. The grid-connected tidal side is in the Fall of Warness, to the west of Eday. The first turbine tested was a 250 kW OpenHydro turbine, installed in December 2006.[3] Since then, multiple devices from different developers have been tested.

Peter Fraenkel tested a 15 kW tidal turbine in Loch Linnhe in 1994. Fraenkel set up Marine Current Turbines (MCT), and demonstrated the 300 kW SeaFlow turbine off Lynmouth, England in 2003. MCT then built the twin-rotor 1.2 MW SeaGen turbine, which was installed in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, from 2008 until it was decommissioned between 2016 and 2019, having generated over 11.6 GWh of electricity.[4][5]

Atlantis Resources developed and tested a series of turbines: the AK-1000 in 2010,[6] the 1 MW AR1000 was tested at EMEC in 2011, and the 1.5 MW AR1500 turbines in conjunction with Lockheed Martin in 2015.[7] Three AR1500 turbines were installed at MeyGen in 2017.[8] In 2021, an AR500 turbine was tested in Japan, which was subsequently upgraded to an AR100 in 2022.[9] In October 2022, the Advanced Tidal Engineering and Services division of SIMEC Atlantis Energy became an independent company, Proteus Marine Renewables.[10] In 2024, Proteus unveiled their AR3000 turbines to be used in the Normandie Hydroliennes NH1 project.[9]

Edinburgh-based Nova Innovation deployed their first 30 kW turbine in the Bluemull Sound, Shetland in 2014.[11] Since 2016, they have operated an array of up-to 6 of their 100 kW turbines in the Bluemull Sound.[12]

Scotrenewables Tidal Power (now Orbital Marine Power) tested their floating SR250 turbine at EMEC in 2012, which was the world's first grid connected floating tidal turbine.[13] They then tested a 2 MW version, the SR2000, in 2017/18, generating over 3 GWh in a year.[14] The Orbital O2 was launched from Dundee in April 2021,[15] and is undergoing long-term tests at EMEC since.

Several other British companies have developed tidal stream turbines, but were not commercially successful. This includes Pulse Tidal, Sustainable Marine Energy, Tidal Energy Ltd, and Tidal Generation Ltd.

Government support programmes

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Main articles: Renewables Obligation (United Kingdom) and Contracts for Difference (UK electricity market support)

Renewables Obligation

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The Renewables Obligation (RO), with associated schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland, was intended to encourage generation of renewable electricity. Renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) are issued to generators free of charge. There is then a market to trade these, with electricity suppliers required to present a certain number every year to Ofgem.[16]

All technologies were initially awarded 1 ROC per MWh, but following a review in 2007, a four-level banding was introduced. Tidal was in the "emerging" band, and received increased support, at 2 ROCs/MWh.[17] A further banding review in 2012 increased support for tidal power to 5 ROCs/MWh, subject to a 30 MW limit per generating station.[18] The scheme closed to new generation in March 2017.

In 2024, there were nine accredited tidal stream generating stations listed in the Renewables and CHP Register.[19] These were: five berths at the EMEC Fall of Warness site near Eday, the MeyGen project (Ness of Quoys), the Nova Innovation Shetland tidal array, the Tidal Energy Ltd Ramsey Sound DeltaStream project, and the SeaGen turbine in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland.

Contracts for Difference

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The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the main market support mechanism for low carbon generation in the UK. Capacity is awarded via a competitive auction process. Tidal stream was eligible to bid into the first three allocation rounds (AR) but no technology was successful.

A £20m ringfence was introduced for tidal stream technology in the fourth allocation round (AR4) in 2022.[20] This resulted in four projects, totalling over 40 MW being awarded contracts.[21] A further 53 MW was awarded CfD in AR5, despite the ringfence being reduced to £10m, capitalising on the fact no floating offshore wind projects were successful.[22] The tidal ringfence was increased to £15m by the incoming Labour government, which secured a further 28 MW of tidal stream CfD in 2024. This gives a pipeline of over 120 MW expected to be operational by 2029,[23] to be developed at EMEC, Meygen, and Morlais.

Tidal stream CfD projects[24][25][26]
Developer Site Delivery year Total
2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29
Hydrowing/Inyanga Marine Morlais 20.0 20.0
Magallanes Tidal Energy EMEC 1.5 3.0 4.5
Magallanes Tidal Energy Morlais 5.6 3.0 8.6
MeyGen MeyGen 28.0 21.9 9.0 58.9
Mor Energy Morlais 4.5 4.5
Nova Innovation EMEC 6.0 6.0
Orbital Marine Power EMEC 7.2 7.2 14.4
Verdant Isles Ltd Morlais 4.9 4.9
Total 5.6 39.7 58.5 18.0 121.9

Tidal stream projects

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Operational

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As of 2024, there are three operational grid-connected tidal stream sites in the UK, all located in the north of Scotland. This includes the EMEC Fall of Warness test site.

The Nova Innovation project in the Bluemull Sound, Shetland, is claimed as the "world's first" tidal array, with two 100 kW turbines installed in 2016.[27] The array was expanded to six turbines in 2023,[28] however the three oldest turbines were decommissioned later that year.[29]

At 6 MW, the SAE Renewables (SAE) MeyGen project in the Pentland Firth is the world's largest tidal stream project in 2024. The first turbine was installed in November 2016.[30] Three further turbines were installed by February 2017,[8] and the first phase entered commercial operation in April 2018.[31] There are plans to expand the site to 400 MW in phases, with SAE securing CfD in 2022, 2023, and 2024 for a total of 59 MW to be constructed by 2029.[32]

Planned

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In addition to the MeyGen project expansion, there are several other planned tidal stream projects in the UK.

The Morlais project has the potential for up to 240 MW of tidal stream generation off the coast of Holy Island, Anglesey, North Wales. As of September 2024, a total of four developers have secured CfD to develop a combined 38 MW of capacity at Morlais. The first turbines are expected to be installed in 2026.[33][34]

There are also three developers planing arrays at EMEC, with a total of 25 MW awarded in CfD AR4–AR6.[24][25][26]

Tidal range proposals

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Tidal range schemes tend to involve large dams or barriers to impound the water, and as such could have significant environmental impacts.

Various schemes have been proposed for a Severn Barrage between England and Wales, potentially generating between 1 GW and 15 GW or renewable electricity. This would harness the significant tidal range of the Severn Estuary, the second largest tides globally.[35] In addition to tidal power, these may also have offered transport links, flood control or harbour creation. In 2010, the UK government announced there was no strategic case for investing in a scheme to build a barrage 10 miles (16 km) long, which could cost over £30bn.[36] However, in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government launched an independent commission to revisit proposals.[35]

Slightly smaller scale impoundment was proposed for the Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay project. A breakwater 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) long and up to 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from shore was proposed to impound the tide. Bi-directional turbines meant the scheme was expected to generate power around 14 hours a day.[37] Despite backing from the Welsh Government, the UK government claimed the £1.3bn project was not good value for money.[38] In addition to Swansea bay, the developer Tidal Lagoon Power was also considering lagoons at Cardiff, Newport, and Brigwater Bay in the Severn Estuary, Colwyn Bay in North Wales, and in West Cumbria.[39]

The Mersey Barrage has been proposed across the River Mersey between Liverpool and the Wirral Peninsula, with an initial public consultation on the scheme in October 2024.[40] The project development and planning stage is expected to take until 2028, with construction and commissioning taking a further 10 years. The scheme could potentially generate up to 1 GW, and may incorporate walking and cycling paths across the river.[41]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tidal Range". British Hydropower Association. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  2. ^ Coles, Daniel; Angeloudis, Athanasios; Greaves, Deborah; Hastie, Gordon; Lewis, Matthew; Mackie, Lucas; McNaughton, James; Miles, Jon; Neill, Simon; Piggott, Matthew; Risch, Denise; Scott, Beth; Sparling, Carol; Stallard, Tim; Thies, Philipp (3 November 2021). "A review of the UK and British Channel Islands practical tidal stream energy resource". Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 477 (2255): 20210469. doi:10.1098/rspa.2021.0469.
  3. ^ "EMEC Fall of Warness Grid-Connected Tidal Test Site". tethys.pnnl.gov. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  4. ^ Brittany Sauser (15 August 2008). "Tidal Power Comes to Market. A large-scale tidal-power unit has started up in Northern Ireland". Technology Review Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Atlantis Successfully Decommissions 1.2 MW SeaGen Tidal System in Industry First". SIMEC Atlantis Energy. 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Blade fault on giant tide turbine AK1000 in Orkney". BBC News. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Lockheed Martin to make MeyGen Pentland Firth turbine". BBC News. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Final turbine installed at MeyGen". ReNews. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b Maksumic, Zerina (4 October 2024). "Proteus Marine Rewables' tidal energy system on track to slash costs, EIB confirms". Offshore Energy. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  10. ^ Garanovic, Amir (21 October 2022). "SIMEC Atlantis management buyout creates Proteus Marine Renewables tidal outfit". Offshore Energy. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  11. ^ Johnson, Peter (23 May 2014). "World first with Yell tidal generator". The Shetland Times. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Shetland Tidal Array becomes world leader". ReNEWS. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  13. ^ "UK: SR250 Exports Power to National Grid". Offshore Wind. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Scotrenewables Withdraws SR2000 Turbine from EMEC". Offshore Energy. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  15. ^ Largue, Pamela (23 April 2021). "Orbital Marine Power launches the O2 tidal turbine". Power Engineering International. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  16. ^ Scott, Edward (19 March 2021). "Renewables obligation scheme: changes to energy supplier payments". House of Lords Library.
  17. ^ "Ofgem's response to BERR consultation on reform of the Renewables Obligation" (PDF). 13 September 2007. p. 10. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Renewable energy to bring £25bn of investment into UK economy - Davey". UK Government Web Archive. July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Renewables and CHP Register scheme | Ofgem". www.ofgem.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  20. ^ Dykes, Andrew (24 November 2021). "UK Government announces £20m ring-fenced tidal funding in upcoming CfD". Energy Voice. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  21. ^ Dykes, Andrew (7 July 2022). "CfD results a 'turning point' for Scottish tidal power". Energy Voice. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  22. ^ Limon, Estelle (5 October 2023). "AR5: Tidal stream benefits from missing floating offshore wind bids - Regen". Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  23. ^ Maksumic, Zerina (3 September 2024). "UK awards six tidal stream projects with Contracts for Difference in Allocation Round 6". Offshore Energy. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 4: results (accessible webpage)". GOV.UK. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 5: results (accessible webpage)". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6: results". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Nova hails 'world first' tidal array". ReNEWS.biz. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Shetland Tidal Array becomes world leader". ReNEWS.biz. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Nova looking to decommission older tidal turbines". Shetland News. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  30. ^ Ellichipuram, Umesh (7 December 2016). "Atlantis' first MeyGen tidal turbine starts operating at full power". Power Technology. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  31. ^ White, Matthew (12 April 2008). "Meygen Starts 25 year operations phase". 4c Offshore.
  32. ^ "SAE secures CfD for MyGen site". Energy Global. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  33. ^ "CfD Success | Morlais". www.morlaisenergy.com. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  34. ^ "UK's Morlais gets additional power with latest government auction". Hydro Review. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  35. ^ a b Morris, Steven (8 March 2022). "Severn estuary tidal energy plan back on agenda amid Ukraine crisis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Severn barrage ditched as new nuclear plants get green light". The Guardian. 18 October 2010. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  37. ^ Kelsey, Chris (12 January 2017). "Everything you need to know about the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon". Wales Online. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  38. ^ "£1.3bn Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project thrown out". BBC News. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  39. ^ "Tidal lagoons could eventually transform UK coastline". BBC News. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  40. ^ "Mersey tidal barrier plans: Public consultation announced". BBC News. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  41. ^ Mersey Tidal Power Phase 1 Community Consultation Booklet (PDF). Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. October 2024.
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