A new study has shown Scottish waters offer the majority of UK wave energy resources.

A report by the Crown Estate that Scottish wave energy has the potential to produce 18GW (gigawatts) of power, compared to the 8.7GW offered around the coast of England and Wales.

The study also found that, in general, tens of gigawatts could be created from wave, tidal stream and tidal range projects around Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Tidal stream projects in Scottish waters could create 11GW of power while tidal range schemes could create 12.5GW.

Rob Hastings, director of the Crown Estate Energy & Infrastructure Portfolio, said:

-- Advertisement --

"While the science of wave and tidal resource assessment is still emerging, and future work will clarify the resources that are practically available, it is clear that wave and tidal energy could contribute substantially to the UK's electricity needs.

"Improving understanding about the extent and locations of resources will help to accelerate development in a sustainable way."

The results were obtained hypothetically by calculating how much power could be generated if devices were deployed across large areas of seabed.

It was then estimated how much electricity the power would generate.

But the deployment of power-generating devices along the British coast would not be free of contention or controversy regarding environmental factors and so it is thought that the original estimations would be somewhat contracted in reality.

The study was undertaken by The Crown Estate in association with a number of organisations including the Marine Management Organisation, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish and Welsh governments.

(IT)