In praise of… the European Marine Energy Centre

Editorial
The Guardian, Wednesday 7 October 2009

Britain is sitting on the biggest source of marine energy in Europe. Tapping tidal and wave energy could one day produce about 10% of the world's electricity consumption, so the incentive to develop turbines, hydrofoils and ducts which can convert this energy into watts is enormous. One such device, 150 metres of scarlet tubing known as the sea snake will be tested next spring at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, on the principle that if it can function in the seas there, it can survive anything. This is the second generation of snake to be tested in the sea; it generates electricity through hydraulic pumps in its joints, which rise and fall with the motion of the waves. The technology is still in its infancy and a smaller version of the snake tested in Portugal had problems generating the expected amount of electricity. Those sceptical of the costs of development (twice those of offshore wind farms) say that marine power is lagging 20 years behind the wind industry. But this is to miss the point. The costs of wind power have decreased by 80% in the last 25 years, with design improvement and economies of scale. Marine power is starting from a lower base. Furthermore, Britain is a world leader in this technology, while it is not in wind turbines. EMEC, owned by the Orkney Islands council, the Carbon Trust and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, is the world's only accredited wave and tidal test centre. A forward-looking government would increase the funding of this industry.