The global installed capacity of wave and tidal-stream installations more than doubled in 2017 to 25MW (from 12MW a year earlier), according to the latest Ocean Energy Systems (OES) annual report (
www.ocean-energy-systems.org).
Tidal stream deployments increased to over 17MW last year, led by Atlantis Resources’ 6MW MeyGen Phase 1A in the Pentland Firth, Scotland, while wave capacity doubled to 8MW, led by Wello’s Clean Energy From Ocean Waves project at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.
OES chairman Henry Jeffrey said: “We have seen many useful international collaborations develop, particularly between the USA and Europe.
“However, we are still waiting on clear market signals for wave and tidal projects globally. Such market signals are vital for the industry to progress towards commercialisation.”
The annual report also presents an in-depth interview with Andrea Copping from the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Commenting on the evolving environmental challenges as larger-scale commercial developments are installed, she says: “There continue to be challenges in ‘consenting’ for wave or tidal devices, due to concerns over environmental effects.
“However, we are making strides in better understanding the potential effects on marine animals, and we hope to be able to ‘retire’ certain risks in the near future.”