UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry yesterday called for an international effort on marine energy, as the EU published a report recommending more funding and support for the technology.

The UK is making waves to try and set itself up as a leader in marine energy investment, including boosting its own support of marine renewbles, promising £20 million for the first demonstration marine energy arrays and drawing up plans to move the technology from prototype testing to commercial deployment.

According to the EU report, by 2050 the marine energy sector could generate up to 15% of the region’s energy demand, support as many as 314,000 by 2050 and deliver over €450 million in investment for coastal communities.

The UK, along with Denmark, France, Ireland, Norway, Portugal and Spain, are backing the report as potential beneficiaries from the technology, as well as Belgium and the Netherlands who have research and supply chain interests.

“There is an abundant energy resource in European waters and there is a clear appetite from individual states to make the most of it,” says Hendry.

The Energy Minister says that the government want to see more marine energy projects get off the drawing board and “into the water”, but more international support and cooperation is needed.

For further information:
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/wave_tidal/wave_tidal.aspx
www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/wave-tidal/3610-position-paper-towards-euro-ind-leader.pdf

Related stories:
Scottish wave energy developer puts first commercial plant into operation (21-Nov)
Falmouth in Cornwall to be home to new wave energy test site (11-Nov)
Siemens takes larger stake in Marine Current Turbines (7-Nov)
Rolls-Royce tidal turbine hits 100 MWh milestone (31-Oct)