Marine renewables covers two disciplines - wave and tide – which can be further sub divided into tidal range and tidal stream. Scottish Renewables’ current work programme focuses on wave and tidal stream.

Approximately 10% of Europe’s wave power is off Scotland’s coasts, with a potential of around 15 GW [The Offshore Valuation, 2010]. This power is harnessed in a number of ways – oscillating water columns, wave attenuators, point absorbers and flaps.

Scotland also boasts about 25% of Europe’s tidal stream potential, approximately 18 GW [The Offshore Valuation, 2010]. The energy from tidal stream is collected by turbines. Current examples show seabed mounted horizontal axis turbines with a three-blade formation and open centre turbines, other designs use vertical axis, floating devices and oscillating hydrofoils.

There is a huge appetite for marine renewables off Scotland’s coasts. There are currently agreements for lease from The Crown Estate totalling 1.6 GW in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters’ strategic area. This involves 11 sites, 6 wave (600 MW) and 5 tidal stream (1000 MW).

There is a further Scottish Leasing Round that has opened up the rest of Scotland’s territorial waters for projects of up to 30MW aimed at companies who want to compete in the Scottish Government’s £10 million Saltire Prize.

There are barriers in relation to grid, supply chain, skills, finance and regulation that need to be overcome.

The Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) Marine Energy Group (MEG) Marine Road Map published at the end of 2009outlined a high scenario of 2 GW of installed capacity by 2020 which could result in 5,300 direct Scottish jobs and £2.4 billion of investment into Scotland.

Marine renewables are a growing industry which Scotland is leading. To support this new industry and maintain the global lead to ensure Scotland and the UK reaps the environmental and economic benefits of this industry requires financial and regulatory support.

Scottish Renewables aim is to represent and promote the interests of our membership by engaging  proactively with Government, industry groups, stakeholders and the public  to promote a permissive environment that the growth and deployment of the Scottish marine industry.