20% of UK Electric Could Come From Tides

The Royal Society has written a report that says that more than 20% of Britain's electric could come from tidal sources.

They also say it would be more reliable than wind energy and are optimistic that the 2 main methods being trialled in the UK will be proven "relatively soon".

They estimate that tidal barrages could provide 15% of our energy needs when rolled out and scaled up, whilst tidal stream (which is based on a kind of like underwater turbine) would provide at least 5% and probably more as the technology is improved.

So we could be getting between 40 and 50% of our electric from renewables in the next couple of decades if the government doesn't start back-peddling (again).



More here.

Largest Tidal Power Device Due For Orkney

The world's largest tidal power machine will be installed off the coast of Orkney, Scotland. This experimental device will use the ebb and flow of the tides off the island to generate a megawatt of electricity a year, enough to power 1000 homes. More here.

Britain hopes to be world leaders in the development of tidal and wave energy technology. It has a number of wave related projects going on around our coast including one off Cornwall which should be plugged into the national grid sometime next year.