Marine-based renewable energy potential is high, though little
is currently utilised.
Marine-based renewable energy such as wind, wave and tidal range and currents offers a significant potential to contribute to low-carbon energy supplies for regions with appropriate coastal features. The IPCC highlights that the technically exploitable potential for marine- based renewables excluding offshore wind ranges from 7 EJ per annum to 7,400 EJ per annum; the latter figure would exceed current global energy needs. However, marine-based renewable energy represented less than 1 per cent of all renewable energy production in 2008. Installed capacity is unlikely to become significant until after 2020 due to the early stage
Producing energy from the oceans
of development of most technologies aside from offshore wind energy.
Greater investments in research and development are needed to support technical advances and enable rapid progression in the sector. Current financial initiatives and investments are not sufficient to develop this potential. Investments in research and development are needed now to ensure that marine-based renewable energy delivers on its potential contribution to low-carbon energy security.
Designs of marine-based renewable energy technologies vary greatly, being adapted to
Tidal and wave energy plants
Selling or ready for selling energy Test operational plants Projected or in construction
Wind energy Main offshore wind farm area 12
Sources: Owen, A., D., Renewable energy: Externality costs as market barriers, Energy Policy, Elsevier, 2006; EEA online database, International Energy Agency-OES, Annual report, 2008; ISSC, Specialist Committee V.4 Ocean, Wind And Wave Energy Utilization, 2009; IPCC, Wind Energy. In IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation, in press.
Note: Energy production costs are averages estimates in the EuropeanUnion and refers to the cost of traditional and enewable energy technologies projected to 2020 assuming technology improvement for newer energy sources.