Engineering opportunities in the marine renewables sector

With exposure to strong Atlantic winds and a bounty of coastal areas, the UK is in an enviable position to develop marine renewables technology. For the government, grasping this opportunity may mean a lucrative slice of what is already a competitive industry. For UK engineers, it could provide a raft of jobs and the chance to shape the future of marine renewables globally.

Recent initiatives have highlighted the government’s commitment in this area. A £20m Marine Energy Array Demonstration Fund was launched this year to progress marine devices from large scale prototypes to bigger formations in the sea. To aid this development, the first UK marine energy park was opened in South West England in January. A second marine energy park launched in July at the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters in the North of Scotland- the same stretch of water that is home to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

With these and similar initiatives, the UK has placed itself as the world’s leading developer of marine renewables. It is estimated that the country has 25% of Europe’s tidal and 10% of Europe’s wave potential.  As a result, out of the eight full-scale prototype devices installed worldwide, seven are in the UK. According to a Technology Innovations Needs Assessment (TINA) report, if the UK builds on this activity, it could harness 15 per cent of the global marine renewable energy sector by 2050 and secure around £4bn for the economy.