Tidal stream energy opportunity
Scotland is a world leader in tidal stream energy (TSE) technology and infrastructure. Explore the many opportunities for your business to join or develop TSE projects in Scotland.
Scotland's extensive coastlines, engineering expertise, and existing energy infrastructure make it a strong location for tidal stream energy (TSE) projects.
More than 50% of the world's operational tidal projects are already based in Scottish waters. These include:
- The world’s first tidal stream array, deployed by Nova Innovationopens in a new window and operating since 2016 in Shetland's Bluemull Sound
- The world’s largest tidal array, MeyGenopens in a new window, located off Scotland's north-east tip
- O2, the world’s largest tidal device, deployed by Orbital Marine Poweropens in a new window with a capacity of 2 megawatts (MW)
What are the benefits of tidal stream energy (TSE)?
TSE has several benefits as a renewable energy source:
- Predictability: TSE relies on the gravitational pull of the moon, making it highly predictable – this is a huge benefit to the energy system as a whole
- Diversity: TSE helps diversify the energy supply to the grid, and is unconnected to other energy sources, which creates a more secure energy mix
- Potential: TSE has the potential to supply 120 gigawatts (GW) globally by 2050, including 6 GW for Scotland during this period
Scotland's TSE ecosystem – innovation and R&D infrastructure
If you're looking to develop a TSE project in Scotland, you'll have access to a thriving network of partners, resources, and expertise.
Organisations that can support your TSE project include:
- The European Marine Energy Centreopens in a new window (EMEC) – the world’s first and only accredited wave and tidal grid-connected real sea test centre
- Wave Energy Scotlandopens in a new window (WES)
- Kelvin Hydrodynamics Laboratoryopens in a new window at the University of Strathclyde
- FastBladeopens in a new window – tidal blade test facility developed by the University of Edinburgh
- FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facilityopens in a new window – combined wave and tidal test tank
- National Decommissioning Centreopens in a new window
- National Manufacturing Institute Scotlandopens in a new window (NMIS)
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Want to know more?
If you have questions or would like more information about tidal stream energy opportunities in Scotland, our advisers are happy to help.