Wave Energy Innovation Position Paper Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub Wave Energy Innovation Position Paper Contents Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................................................................3 Authors ..............................................................................................................................................................3 List of abbreviations ..........................................................................................................................................4 List of tables and figures ...................................................................................................................................4 Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................................................6 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................10 1. Delivering net zero ......................................................................................................................................11 OPPORTUNITY .............................................................................................................................................11 POSITION .....................................................................................................................................................11 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Delivering net zero ......................................................................................16 2. Achieving value for money..........................................................................................................................17 OPPORTUNITY .............................................................................................................................................17 POSITION .....................................................................................................................................................17 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Achieving value for money .............................................................................21 3. Supporting communities .............................................................................................................................22 OPPORTUNITY .............................................................................................................................................22 POSITION .....................................................................................................................................................22 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Supporting communities ................................................................................23 4. Maintaining energy security .......................................................................................................................24 OPPORTUNITY .............................................................................................................................................24 POSITION .....................................................................................................................................................24 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Maintaining energy security ..........................................................................26 5. Advancing the low carbon economy ..........................................................................................................27 OPPORTUNITY .............................................................................................................................................27 POSITION .....................................................................................................................................................27 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Advancing the low carbon economy .............................................................28 Annex A - Wave Energy in the UK: Status Review ..........................................................................................31 1. Wave Energy Description ........................................................................................................................31 2. Wave energy resources in UK .................................................................................................................33 3. Potential role of wave energy in UK’s energy mix ..................................................................................34 4. Progress and current status of wave energy in the UK ..........................................................................35 4.1. Early Initiatives and programmes ....................................................................................................35 4.2. Wave Energy Scotland (WES) ...........................................................................................................37 4.3. Current status...................................................................................................................................37 1 5. International Position of UK ....................................................................................................................39 Annex B - Wave Energy Niche Applications ....................................................................................................42 1. WEC-Integrated Breakwaters ..................................................................................................................42 2. WEC for Coastal Protection .....................................................................................................................44 3. WEC-Powered Desalination: ...................................................................................................................46 4. WEC-Integrated Microgrid on Islands: ....................................................................................................49 5. WEC-Integrated Aquaculture: .................................................................................................................50 6. WEC for Offshore Oil & Gas Applications: ..............................................................................................51 7. WEC for Military and Surveillance: .........................................................................................................53 8. Combined wind-wave/solar-wave platforms: ........................................................................................54 9. WEC as navigation buoys: .......................................................................................................................55 10. WEC for oceanography services: ..........................................................................................................55 11. WEC for Luxury Resorts: .......................................................................................................................55 Annex C – Wave Energy Scalability and Technical Challenges........................................................................58 1. Scalability for WECs .................................................................................................................................58 1.1. Scalability of a single WEC ...............................................................................................................58 1.2. 2 MW pilot WEC plant and 500 MW commercial WEC plant rough sizing .....................................64 2. Key challenges and lessons learnt ..........................................................................................................64 Annex D - The development of Wave Energy Policy in the UK .......................................................................69 1. History and Context ................................................................................................................................69 2. Overview of Wave Energy policy mechanisms .......................................................................................70 2.1. Broad policy market drivers .............................................................................................................70 2.2. Specific market enablers ..................................................................................................................70 2.3. Specific targeted grant programmes ...............................................................................................70 3. Summary .................................................................................................................................................71 4. Policy recommendations ........................................................................................................................71 Annex E – Wave Energy Road Map .................................................................................................................75 Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................................75 Wave Energy Road Map ..............................................................................................................................77 Lessons Learnt .............................................................................................................................................77 Remaining Challenges .................................................................................................................................78