Tidal stream power generates the UK’s 11% of yearly electricity and plays a substantial part in the government’s drive for net-zero.
Scientists in the UK have stated that connecting the power of the ocean’s tidal streams can deliver a probable and dependable means of assisting to meet the country’s future energy demand.
On the other hand, if that is to be comprehended, it will require government funding to speed up the invention.
Currently, such opportunities are not available to the government’s renewable energy funding schemes.
Previously, the government funds have helped set up 18 MW of tidal stream capacity, around 500 times less than the UK’s current offshore wind capacity. Though, cost decrease has decelerated since access to funding has been removed.
The study also discovered the impending environmental effects of such future expansions and no evidence was found to suggest that the next phase of tidal stream development will cause a noteworthy damaging environmental impact.
Dr. Danny Coles, Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth and the study’s lead author, said: “Our study shows there is considerable evidence to support an estimate that the UK and British Channel Islands’ tidal stream energy resource can provide 11% of our current annual electricity demand. Achieving this would require around 11.5 GW of tidal stream turbine capacity to be installed, and we currently stand at just 18 MW. It took the UK offshore wind industry approximately 20 years to reach 11.5 GW of installed capacity. If tidal stream power is going to contribute to the net-zero transition, time is of the essence.”
Whereas, the UK Government has already dedicated to a Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 and, in 2017.
Almost 30% of the UK’s energy was produced through renewable technologies such as wind and solar power.
Co-author Professor Beth Scott, of the University of Aberdeen, said: “This paper provides such an important and timely message for the world, and especially the UK government, to fully understand the strategic use of predictable tidal stream energy. At the moment the UK is leading the world in both the technological and environmental research aspects of tidal stream energy developments and supporting that lead now will rapidly increase the UK’s goal of sustainable net-zero energy production.”
Another co-author, Professor Philipp Thies of the University of Exeter, added: “This is an extensive review on the state of the art and opportunities for tidal stream energy. There are still engineering challenges ahead, but this source of low carbon energy is technically feasible and an important element of future net zero energy generation.”