Wave & tidal power |
Global technical potential for ocean energy capacity Installed capacity (GW) Tidal Technical Wave Technical
Europe Americas Asia and Oceania TOTAL GLOBALLY 21 87 131 239 Source: Ocean Energy’s Global Resource Assessment. June 2026
Oceans create narrow straits that accelerate water flows, creating ideal conditions for tidal stream generation. This could be harnessed to replace coal which is the main source of fuel in the Philippines and Indonesia. Meanwhile, increasing policy and funding support in China are helping the country to accelerate its market development of both wave and tidal power. It’s thought China may soon leverage its industrial leadership in renewables to fast-track the scale-up of ocean energy. Despite no studies quantifying it as yet, the best ocean
energy resource across Africa is expected to lie in the west and Southern areas. Several countries, including Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, show strong wave potential, while a tidal stream resource is expected to be found in the Mozambique Channel. Small Island Developing States across the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans all possess considerable ocean energy potential that requires further study. “Ocean energy is not a niche technology. The resource is abundant, the technology is progressing, and countries that move first will secure industrial leadership, export opportunities and home-grown renewable electricity. The next step is to translate this global potential into commercial deployment,” said Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe.
A pivotal time Over the next 12 months, the Scottish tidal stream sector
is reported to be facing a pivotal time, with developers looking to progress projects and fulfil its significant economic potential. But with growing demands on planning and consenting placing more pressure on regulators and key advisory bodies, it has highlighted the need for a clear and coordinated policy framework to support commercialisation of the sector. To help build investor confidence and remove barriers which are slowing the commercial roll-out of projects, in June 2026 Scottish Renewables called upon government ministers to commit to publishing a dedicated policy statement for tidal stream technology in its upcoming Programme for Government. This would reinforce the Scottish Government’s support for tidal stream, recognising the importance of the technology and its potential to support economic growth. “We have worked with our members to identify the biggest challenges facing the tidal stream sector and explored how these can be resolved to ensure this technology fulfils its potential to play a vital role in the UK’s future energy system,” Colin Palmer, Director of Offshore at Scottish Renewables, said. It’s vital, he added, that the sector is given the confidence it needs to accelerate the delivery of these projects. “Scotland has a unique opportunity to capitalise on its global leadership position in tidal stream energy,” Eileen Linklater, Director of Corporate Affairs at the European
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Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), commented. “A clear commitment from the Scottish Government would send a powerful signal to investors that Scotland is serious about turning its world leading innovation into a globally competitive industry. We are already seeing the benefits flowing into communities through high value jobs, local supply chains and long term economic opportunities.” Research carried out by the University of Edinburgh in 2025, shows the potential economic benefit of tidal stream energy to Scotland is £4.5bn Gross Value Added, with a further £11bn coming from international projects if the country takes advantage of its vast tidal resource. A potential 22,500 jobs could also be secured in Scotland by 2050. Tidal stream projects have already secured an 80% UK-based and 50% Scottish-based supply chain. Orbital Marine Power, MeyGen and Nova Innovation are currently developing projects, with over 300MW of generation capacity, in Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters.
Collaboration and planning Adaptability, collaboration and evidence-based planning
are highlighted as essential for reducing risk and building investor and regulatory confidence in ocean energy. And a new report published by the International Energy Agency’s Ocean Energy Systems’ (IEA-OES) Technology Collaboration Programme highlights how test centres can help accelerate ocean energy through collaboration, adaptive regulation and targeted investment The report provides insights from over a decade of
international collaboration, capturing the key findings and lessons learned to date from International WaTERS, a network of wave and tidal energy research sites established and run by EMEC. Set up in 2013, International WaTERS aims to connect
test centres, share experience and address common technical, regulatory, environmental and financial challenges. Drawing on workshops and exchanges held between 2013 and 2024, and bringing together delegates from across Europe, the Americas and Asia, the report provides a structured overview of the network’s evolution and lessons learned to inform future policy, investment and deployment. It notes how marine energy test centres have evolved from single-technology wave and tidal facilities into multi-technology innovation hubs, reflecting the sector’s response to growing technical complexity, market demand and policy priorities. Test centres are playing a leading role in environmental
monitoring, adaptive management and risk-based consenting, alongside advocating for open data sharing and standardised protocols to reduce regulatory friction. Early, transparent engagement with communities, fisheries and regulators are also seen as being central to securing social licence and building long-term trust. “International WaTERS exists to ensure that test centres
are not solving the same problems in isolation,” Dernis Mediavilla, Head of Innovation at EMEC said. The report concludes that continued investment
in shared infrastructure, knowledge exchange and coordinated action will be critical to advancing marine energy towards commercial maturity and delivering economic, environmental and social benefits worldwide. And to support future planning and strategic investment, it also provides a foundation for evidence-based policy recommendations. These aim to: advance regulatory frameworks; streamline consenting processes; strengthen stakeholder engagement; improve offshore operations; and promote data sharing.
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