Renewable and low carbon energy

Marine energy

Scotland is a world leader in the development and deployment of wave and tidal energy technologies. It plays host to the world’s leading wave and tidal energy test centre, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, the world’s largest tidal stream array and the world’s most powerful tidal stream turbine.

Our Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund helped to accelerate the commercial development of tidal energy projects in Scottish waters.

Through our Wave Energy Scotland (WES) technology programme, we have funded 120 contracts, committed almost £50 million and been involved with 275 separate organisations, across 18 different countries. These projects are developing wave devices, sub-systems and components, as well as leading the way in advanced control systems.

Two half-scale wave energy convertors from the programme are being deployed throughout 2021 and 2022 for testing in real sea conditions in Orkney. Deployment of these devices – developed by Scottish companies AWS Ocean Energy and Mocean Energy respectively – represent the culmination of the first phase of the WES programme and a significant step forward for the sector.

Looking ahead

The Scottish energy strategy, published in December 2017, sets out our commitment to the wave and tidal energy sector in Scotland. Our Programme for Government 2022 to 2023 included a commitment to continue to support the development of the wave and tidal sector, which represents a major economic and climate opportunity for Scotland.

We will continue to champion the wave and tidal energy sector, supporting the research, development and demonstration that will maintain Scotland’s competitive advantage and potentially deliver significant domestic and export-led economic benefit.

Support continues through the WES technology programme, as well as our work with the Scottish Marine Energy Industry Working Group to agree priorities and collective actions for building on the Scottish marine energy sector’s achievements to date. 

Scottish Development International (SDI), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise can help businesses find the right funding, locations and partners to make their marine energy project a success.

Back to top