Wave & tidal power | resilience, it is vital this consenting uncertainty
is resolved in a collaborative, science-led manner to enable sustainable development alongside the protection of our marine ecosystems.” TISP sets out a series of recommendations calling for coordinated action across government, industry, regulators and key delivery bodies to strengthen policy, planning, evidence and monitoring frameworks. Realising this coordinated approach will require
Above: Sunset over the Andaman Sea in Southern Thailand
proportionate, solutions-focused regulation, developed in partnership with key actors including NatureScot, that actively supports the responsible deployment of tidal stream energy in line with national goals. This approach should be underpinned by statistical methods and regional frameworks that better reflect population-scale ecological processes and long-term environmental change. As Dr Ewan Edwards, Environmental Specialist at Xodus explains, harbour seal populations around Orkney and the north coast of Scotland have been in sharp decline for around 20 years but is generally attributed to factors such as competition for food with other species, predation by killer whales or grey seals, and potentially biotoxins from algal blooms. “Extensive monitoring of operational tidal projects
in Scotland has found no evidence of seal-turbine collisions,” he states. “On the contrary, data suggest that seals actively avoid operating turbines, especially during peak flows. The project team strongly believe that the weight of evidence suggests that collisions
between harbour seals, or any other marine mammal, and tidal turbines are thankfully incredibly rare, and the risk of collision is a hypothetical one, rather than a realistic threat.” Although the report demonstrates the significant
progress the sector has made to unlock its full potential, it realises it must continue to work collaboratively, share its learnings, and maintain the momentum. “At MeyGen, we’re committed to environmental
stewardship but the consenting system must evolve to reflect both the latest evidence and ensure the scale of this vital technology is realised,” Fraser Johnson, O&M Manager at MeyGen, commented. “Tidal stream energy has proven that it can be key in providing predictable, scalable renewable power, creating a thriving sector in the process. We must ensure we put in place a framework that enables responsible growth, builds trust, and delivers long-term value across communities, the environment, and those investing in a more resilient energy future. This work is part of our long-term commitment to the region, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue to support practical solutions.”
Italian assessment With tidal currents reaching speeds up to 3m/sec
in the Messina Strait, recent research on this area has described it ‘as a highly intriguing location for energy generation’. According to researchers from the Department of Engineering at Italy’s University of Palermo, this phenomenon is primarily attributed to
Scottish policy recommendations
Delivering policy recommendations with the capability to progress both the tidal stream and wave energy sectors is a complex and urgent task, researchers from The University of Edinburgh have recently admitted. However as tidal stream projects are being built now, with the first phases to be commissioned in 2026/27 and a growing pipeline beyond, Scotland needs to be ready. So decisions must be made now to address developmental challenges and deployment timelines facing the tidal sector and future wave energy capacity. Such recommendations include: 1. Long-term market support - Continuation and expansion of a well-funded UK market support mechanism, such as the CfD, is the foundational step to ensuring a market for Scottish tidal stream developers to supply and deploy their devices. It also provides a potential long-term funding source for the wave energy sector.
2. Sustained technology innovation - Targeted and sustained research and innovation support for both tidal stream and wave energy technology developers is essential to ensure Scottish companies continue to innovate, reduce costs, win projects, and deploy their devices in both domestic and international markets.
3. Increase supply chain competitiveness - Modernisation of Scottish supply chain capabilities should be implemented at all levels to support the imminent pipeline of tidal stream and future wave energy projects
4. Develop skills for a Just Transition - Investment into device innovation and supply chain capability should be coupled with an equal investment into domestic workforce capacity and skills. This should not solely target higher education graduates from a STEM background, who are an important consideration of any future skilled workforce. It should also consider apprenticeships
and existing workers transitioning from the oil and gas and other relevant sectors, who often have transferable skillsets and exposure to the challenges of working in a marine environment.
5. Cross-sector collaboration - The maturity of the offshore wind sector, in terms of fabrication facilities and supply chain depth, should serve as both an inspiring template and a serious opportunity for collaboration with the tidal stream and wave energy sectors.
6. Prioritise infrastructure upgrades - Significant grid upgrades will be required alongside the continued development of renewable energy in Scotland, to avoid transmission bottlenecks and potential curtailment of renewable output. Port and harbour infrastructure upgrades across the country, currently being planned for offshore wind, should also factor in the additional requirements from the growing pipeline of tidal stream projects and potential for wave energy.
7. Delivering innovation support in Scotland - Tasking and funding existing innovation and support organisations to oversee the well-coordinated and accelerated delivery of recommendations, in particular innovations in tidal stream and wave energy device development, and improvements in Scottish supply chain capabilities. This will help to ensure that Scotland maintains its position as a world leader in the delivery of tidal stream and wave energy projects with high Scottish supply chain content.
References
Future economic potential of Tidal Stream & Wave Energy in Scotland by D. R. Noble, K. Grattan, and H. Jeffrey. The University of Edinburgh, Jan. 2025
36 | September 2025 |
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