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An innovative artistic approach to harnessing energy produced locally by tidal energy projects might enable businesses and homes along Scotland’s coastline to become less dependent on expensive and polluting oil and diesel energy sources, by eliminating the waiting period for increased grid capacity, as per a recent study.
The report outlines various opportunities to assist coastal communities in accessing cleaner, and potentially cheaper, energy, and was conducted by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) alongside the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult for Crown Estate Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The study explores how communities could connect directly to tidal energy projects, allowing locally generated green energy to be delivered to consumers without relying on a national grid connection. Converting tidal-generated electricity into green hydrogen will also be examined, pinpointing significant opportunities for decarbonizing industries and producing clean fuels.
The report underscores that energy resilience for isolated regions could be enhanced by reducing dependence on diesel and oil, which are typically transported over long distances, and highlights the economic potential for local tidal projects to create more jobs and generate income through community-funded initiatives.
The research assessed 30 tidal stream locations around Scotland’s shore, with 20 identified as being sufficiently close to potential end-users. Various off-take pathways were found to be feasible, including:
- The Islay Project, where the green hydrogen company Protium assists whisky distilleries to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
- Utilizing the tidal energy possibilities of the Pentland Firth to produce green hydrogen for developing synthetic fuels on the Orkney island of Flotta.
- Replacing diesel generators on Barra and Vatersay with a battery storage system to harness tidal-generated electricity.
The study stresses that accessing tidal-derived energy this way is not a substitute for a connection to the national grid, but rather an additional method to optimize the use of such energy resources. The authors also note the opportunity to repurpose legacy oil and gas assets for new hydrogen and synthetic fuel production, leveraging the expertise of individuals with oil and gas backgrounds.
The report emerges against the backdrop of a UK Marine Energy Council objective to generate 1 GW of electricity from tidal sources by 2035, with 700 MW of that expected to come from projects in Scotland.
Carolyn MacPhee, Development Manager at Crown Estate Scotland, stated:
“Scotland has an exceptional natural resource in the form of tidal energy, which provides a reliable and predictable source of renewable energy. However, securing access to the national grid is a recognized barrier to fully utilizing the available tidal stream energy. This report outlines the possibilities to enhance the use of our nation’s natural energy. In doing so, it underscores the potential to generate clean energy within local communities, create employment, and help lower the costs of producing a variety of energy types.”
Eileen Linklater, Corporate Affairs Director at EMEC, commented:
“The report showcases the promise of tidal stream energy to drive net-zero targets, enhance energy security, and foster green growth throughout the UK. Alternative off-take routes for tidal stream generation across Scotland could play a critical role in facilitating the sector’s advancement, given current grid limitations. To realize this potential, key recommendations focus on strategic planning around optimal resource allocation adjacent to industries needing decarbonization, minimizing risk for community-scale projects, and raising thresholds for consenting requirements to better support projects at various scales. These insights aim to inform future leasing strategies and identify practical approaches to overcoming delivery challenges.”
The report’s conclusions can be accessed here:
