Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate has Department has made of the UK's tidal energy resource.

We have made a number of studies of UK tidal potential. The 2010’s Severn Tidal Power feasibility study [1] assessed the potential for 5 generic projects.

The 2012’s Crown Estate UK Wave and Tidal Key Resource Areas [2] study assessed the UK’s theoretical resource for tidal stream, barrage and lagoon resource at 95 TWh/year (32 GW), 96 TWh/year (45 GW) and 25 TWh/year (14 GW) respectively.

The Technology Innovation Needs Assessment [3] (TINA) published in 2012 estimated that tidal stream energy could practically deliver 20-30 TWh/year around 2050.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/1-severn-tidal-power-feasibility-study-conclusions-and-summary-report

2] http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/media/5476/uk-wave-and-tidal-key-resource-areas-project.pdf

[3] http://www.lowcarboninnovation.co.uk/working_together/technology_focus_areas/marine/.