The Orkney islands, located off Scotland’s northern tip, are exceptionally well-suited to harness the power of the ocean. The archipelago’s western shores face relentless waves, while the numerous channels witness massive tidal movements daily. This geographical advantage led to the establishment of the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) in Orkney, a leading agency for developing and testing wave and tidal power technologies.
EMEC’s wave-energy testing site at Billia Croo, on Orkney’s largest island, experiences average wave heights of 2 to 3 meters, with extreme winter waves exceeding 20 meters. The surrounding windswept and treeless landscape highlights the raw power of the ocean. Established in 2003 with about $53 million in public investment from various governmental and regional bodies, EMEC has become the world’s most prolific site for testing ocean energy converters, serving over 20 corporate clients.
The Billia Croo facility, opened in 2004 on rented land, features an array of transformers and a modest control center housing electronic equipment. Offshore testing berths allow clients to test wave-energy conversion devices, with any generated electricity fed directly into the UK national grid. The inherent variability of waves, influenced by wind energy, contrasts with the more predictable tidal energy, governed by the moon and sun’s gravitational pull.
EMEC’s grid-connected tidal energy test facility off the southern tip of Eday experiences peak tidal flows of over 4 meters per second, making tidal energy a more consistent source compared to wind or solar power. Predictable for centuries, tidal energy holds significant potential, with tidal stream energy alone capable of meeting 11 percent of the UK’s annual electricity needs. Despite this potential, wave and tidal power still account for only a small fraction of Orkney’s energy consumption and lag behind other renewable sources like wind and solar.
Supporters argue that with sufficient public investment, ocean energy could become more economically viable. Andrew Scott, CEO of Orbital Marine Power Ltd., highlights the potential of tidal stream energy, exemplified by their O2 tidal stream energy generator, the world’s most powerful, currently providing about 10 percent of Orkney’s electricity. Scott envisions expanding the turbine array and generating substantial revenue from electricity sales over the next 20 years.
However, the high costs, environmental concerns, and geographical limitations present significant challenges. While tidal and wave energy offer immense potential, their adoption is hindered by the need for substantial public investment and technological development. Industry leaders like Scott and Remi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe, emphasize the need for government support to unlock the ocean’s energy potential.
In the United States, initiatives like the PacWave facilities in Oregon aim to advance wave energy research, while small-scale projects in Alaska demonstrate the feasibility of localized ocean energy solutions. Back in Orkney, SAE Renewables recently celebrated producing 50 gigawatt-hours of electricity with their tidal stream array in the Pentland Firth, highlighting ongoing advancements in the sector.
The journey to harness ocean energy parallels the early stages of wind energy development, with small-scale experimentation and gradual scaling up. Technological convergence, akin to the wind industry’s evolution, is expected as the sector matures. Despite the current lag behind wind and solar, the potential for wave and tidal energy to complement other renewables and contribute to a stable energy supply remains promising.
The global effort to harness ocean energy underscores its importance in the fight against climate change. With continued investment and technological innovation, the latent power of the world’s oceans could play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable energy future.
SAE Renewables Limited (LON:SAE) was founded in 2005 as a supplier of tidal stream turbines, SAE quickly grew to include development of tidal stream projects and is the majority owner of MeyGen, the world’s largest tidal stream energy project.
