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Marine Energy Last Updated: 24 July 2012 UKERC – Landscapes – Marine Energy Last Updated: 24 July 2012 UKERC RESEARCH LANDSCAPE: MARINE ENERGY Section 1: An overview which includes a broad characterisation of research activity in the sector and the key research challenges Section 2: An assessment of UK capabilities in relation to wider international activities, in the context of market potential Section 3: Major funding streams and providers of basic research along with a brief commentary Section 4: Major funding streams and providers of applied research along with a brief commentary Section 5: Major funding streams for demonstration activity along with major projects and a brief commentary Section 6: Research infrastructure and other major research assets (e.g. databases, models) Section 7: Research networks, mainly in the UK, but also European networks not covered by the EU Framework Research and Technology Development (RTD) Programmes Section 8: UK participation in energy-related EU Framework Research and Technology Development (RTD) Programmes Section 9: UK participation in wider international initiatives, including those supported by the International Energy Agency Prepared by Laura Finlay, Brighid Jay, and Henry Jeffrey, University of Edinburgh Last Updated: 24 July 2012 The information contained in this landscape is a snapshot of activity at the date shown – for the most up-to-date information, the reader is advised to carry out a search of the whole UKERC Research Atlas using the interface at http://ukerc.rl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/ercri9.pl This document is provided free of charge. While the UKERC will continue to make every effort to ensure accuracy of information, it cannot be held responsible for any errors; any risks associated with the use of the data remain entirely the responsibility of those downloading it. Users are reminded that they should acknowledge UKERC in all cases where the information is used. UKERC retains copyright of all documents; your use of this information should conform to UK Copyright “Fair Dealing” (http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p27_work_of_others) UKERC – Landscapes – Marine Energy Last Updated: 24 July 2012 1. Overview Return to Top Characterisation of the field Within universities, marine renewables research has traditionally sat within engineering departments. More recently, in order to Energy can be extracted from the sea in different ways: wave, take account of economic, social and environmental issues, some tidal currents, tidal barrages, tidal lagoons and ocean thermal Universities have established research centres across a number currents. In the UK, technology deployment has focussed on of departments or research institutes in which academics from wave and tidal currents. Therefore, this landscape document different disciplines are housed under one roof. concentrates on these two methods of energy extraction from the sea. The traditional route for device development starts by testing a 1/100th scale model in a tank, developing hydrodynamic models The potential for offshore wave energy in the UK has been to design the next scale model at say 1/20th or 1/10th scale, estimated to be 50 TWh/year with nearshore and shoreline wave testing that in a larger tank or offshore and using results from adding another 8 TWh/year. The UK tidal stream potential is 17 these tests to validate the models before going to full scale. TWh/year. Taken together, approximately 15-20% of UK electricity demand could in principle be met by wave and tidal Most marine energy technology developers are SMEs. The US stream. However, the marine industry in the UK is at an early Department of Energy’s Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology stage, probably 20-30 years behind the current wind industry. Database list numerous devices in development around the world, with no clear winners at present. Some UK based SMEs Wave energy research started in the UK in the 1970s but the have formed partnerships with large utilities, for example Marine Department of Energy abandoned the aim of full scale prototype Current Turbines and EDF, Pelamis Wave Power and E.ON and trials and reduced the level of funding significantly following a Scottish Power Renewables, Andritz Hydro Hammerfest and 1982 review which concluded that the economics of wave power Scottish Power Renewables, and Aquamarine Power and SSE were poor. A further review of wave energy in 1999, plus Renewables. As more prototypes are demonstrated, or current recommendations from the Marine Foresight Panel has led to the prototypes are proved further, bigger players are likely to reinstatement of government funding for marine energy become more active. Device developers and engineering research. departments tend to focus on the technology, while environmental issues and economics are dealt with by cross- Up to the 1980s marine renewables research was University led, disciplinary research institutions and NGOs. but since the 1990s commercial device developers have played a much larger role and recently utilities are becoming more Research Challenges involved. Large scale prototypes for both wave and tidal stream have been installed and tested in Europe. Many more devices are Device developers use off the shelf technology where possible, being developed at model and small scale. but it is accepted that underpinning research is required. Marine renewable energy research tends to be multi-disciplinary covering a range of topics which includes: resource modelling; fundamental hydrodynamic modelling; engineering design of devices; tank testing; electrical systems and grid connection; UKERC – Landscapes – Marine Energy Last Updated: 24 July 2012 environmental issues; economics; and impacts of climate change. Challenges include: predictability, manufacturability, installability, operability, survivability, reliability, and affordability. Development of a prototype from conception to a large scale sea-going prototype is time consuming and very expensive, currently taking up to 10 years. An overarching challenge is to reduce this development time. This will require developers and academic research teams to work together to develop reliable design codes and reduce the reliance on tank testing at different scales. The form and availability of financial support for R&D has an impact on the development time. Knowledge transfer from other sectors, particularly offshore oil & gas (both academia and industry), and the supply chain will play a key role in overcoming the technical challenges and reducing development time. Access to physical data from prototype deployments would assist R&D programmes, in particular the verification of resource models and design codes. As well as the technical challenges it is important to address the more socio-economic aspects. Engagement with important marine stakeholders, such as fishermen, leisure users, environmentalists and local communities should be initiated sooner rather than later. UKERC – Landscapes – Marine Energy Last Updated: 24 July 2012 2. Capabilities Assessment Return to Top The UK has existing capacity to meet the marine energy Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), Scottish Association for Marine challenges listed in the previous section, and these are outlined Science (SAMS), Peninsula Research Institute for Marine in Table 2.1. The UK has very high capabilities in a wide range of Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) and Wave Hub, will be world marine energy areas and is currently the world leader in marine leading and will provide the UK with a high capability to exploit a energy. The list of UK capabilities covers all aspects of global market. The global marine renewable electricity market is technology development from conception to large scale estimated to be worth between £60b and £190b per annum deployment. The capability has been established as a result of (Carbon Trust, Future Marine Energy). There is the potential for activity in another sector, such as Electrical System Design, Grid major domestic and export markets for capital equipment, connection, device installation. Capability in other sectors is construction, installation and operation in this sector for UK growing as a result of the increasing industrial activity in wave manufacture. and tidal current energy in the UK, therefore providing the UK with a competitive edge. The UK also has high capabilities with regards to testing and demonstrating facilities through University laboratories and Environmental monitoring of marine devices is very much an testing tanks as well as the major marine testing facilities of important growth area for the UK. Work undertaken as part of EMEC, WaveHub and NaREC. the Strategic Environmental Assessment and research taking place at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Sea Table 2.1 UK Capabilities UK Capability Area Market potential High Wave device development Global market Tidal stream device development Global market Electrical system design Global market Tank & Offshore testing Global market Resource Assessment Global market Device Installation Global market Grid connection Global market System demonstration (EMEC and WaveHub) Global market Power Train Demonstration (NaREC) Global market R&D Global market Environmental monitoring Global market Medium Manufacturing Global market UKERC – Landscapes – Marine Energy Last Updated: 24 July 2012 3. Basic and applied strategic research Return to Top University based marine renewables research covers: resource Duck was the main focus of research in the 70s and 80s. That modelling; fundamental hydrodynamic modelling; engineering
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