This summer’s wildfires in Greece are only the tip of the iceberg. Europe faces a larger, underlying challenge: it must drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions, and it needs to do it now. Using fossil fuels for electricity generation is no longer an option – nor is it a necessity. Renewable energy sources – typically wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) – can deliver cheap, zero carbon power in large quantities. A few others can help balance wind and solar’s variability, making a fully decarbonised energy system more secure, more sustainable and more affordable.

Tidal energy is one of the technologies that will help phase out fossil fuels. Attuned to the movements of the moon, Earth and the sun, it is predictable decades in advance. This makes tidal energy one of the most reliable sources of renewable energy available, and potentially instrumental in guaranteeing secure grid management.

The potential global capacity of tidal energy stands at around 100 GW – and hundreds of gigawatts more when the sector cracks the low-flow tidal technology. Europe has a substantial share of that potential: around 20 GW of tidal capacity can be installed in European waters. Currently led by European companies, the tidal sector offers opportunities for local job creation as well as global exports.

What is the status of tidal power development in Europe?
The tidal sector is moving fast. Current industry players began their journey between 2006 and 2010 with desk design, component manufacturing and testing, and open sea demonstration of prototypes. Each step in the process requires 1–2 years – developing infrastructure technologies is not like coding mobile apps! The hardware must extract an energy never used before, while withstanding the harsh marine environment and keeping costs manageable.

The first pilot farms started operations in 2015–2016, and today developers are preparing pre-commercial farms with second/third-generation machines. By comparison, the wind energy sector started to really develop in the early 1980s and took several decades to reach commercial maturity. Of course, tidal energy benefits from some of the solutions developed by the wind industry, hence the accelerated development.

Reaching commercial stage isn’t easy for technologies that require tens of millions of investments and public support to get there. After the initial wave of pilot farms between 2016 and 2021, the sector experienced a significant lull due to a lack of public funding. Innovation comes at a cost that keeps any energy technology above market price for a significant length of time. Both wind and solar PV were developed thanks to important financial support from both European Union (EU) and national governments – so it is for tidal.

Fortunately, recent developments have reignited the sector’s progress, and 127 MW of projects publicly supported via EU programmes or national schemes are now waiting to be deployed in Europe. The UK has stepped up, putting revenue support on the table in the form of Contracts for Difference (CfD) three years in a row. This resulted in a project pipeline of 94 MW to be installed in Scotland and Wales, and provided the required long-term revenue certainty needed to unlock private investments. France is also tapping into its significant tidal resource by financing the country’s first 18 MW pre-commercial farm with a combined grant and revenue support package.

Fortunately, recent developments have reignited the sector’s progress, and 127 MW of tidal energy projects publicly supported via EU programmes or national schemes are now waiting to be deployed in Europe.
 

Financial support has made tidal more attractive for private investors. Major utilities and oil and gas companies have recently entered the sector, recognising the untapped market potential.

EU and national deployment targets also sent the right market signals to build private investors’ confidence in long-term tidal projects. The National Energy and Climate Plans or the Renewable Energy Directive, which require for 5% of all renewable installed capacity to be innovative, help guarantee the tidal sector’s long-term future.

Why tidal?
Ultimately, the question of whether or not to support private investments in tidal technology with public money and development targets boils down to the perceived benefits.

Tomorrow’s electricity grid needs to be zero carbon, low cost, physically secure, environmentally friendly and support increased consumption from transport, all while using European technology and manufacturing.

Tidal energy ticks all these boxes. Europe has a unique chance to leverage its lead in tidal energy and use its natural resources. With the right support, this promising technology can rapidly reduce costs and significantly contribute to Europe’s clean energy goals, boost its competitiveness and drive economic growth.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

• Further reading: ‘UK tidal energy project gains EU research backing as ‘world first’.’ Orbital, along with sector leading project partners, has been selected by the European Commission’s (EC) Horizon Europe Programme to deliver a 9.6 MW multi-turbine tidal energy array. 
• Find out more about Minesto’s 1.2 MW Dragon 12 tidal power plant that is delivering electricity to the Faroe Islands.