Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

Major potential for wave and tidal energy near Alaska & Hawaii

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released two reports detailing the country’s ocean wave and tidal resource energy potential. Mapping and Assessment of the United States Ocean Wave Energy Resource report is a follow-up to the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) 2004 study, with the most recent evidence suggesting a 26 percent increase in wave energy resources.

The Assessment of Energy Production Potential from Tidal Streams in the United States, led by researchers at Georgia Tech Research Corporation in collaboration with DOE, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and includes a geographic information systems (GIS) tool available for public use. The report data concludes that U.S. water power resources, including ocean wave, tidal and conventional hydropower, have the potential to provide 15 percent of the U.S’s electricity by 2030.

RenewableUK cautious over Government’s mixed funding signals

RenewableUK, the UK’s largest renewable energy trade association, has welcomed the Government’s commitment to boost financial support for wave and tidal projects. However, RenewableUK is urging caution over the Government’s plans to downgrade the level of financial support it provides for onshore wind from 2013 onwards, and offshore wind from 2015.

RenewableUK’s key considerations in response to the latest Government plans are:

- RenewableUK welcome the boost in financial support for wave and tidal energy projects
- The Renewables industry is already working with government to ensure cost reductions
- Cuts in support for wind industry will have impact on deployment

Scots Strive for 80% Renewable Energy

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond announced last week a massive leap in the Scottish renewable energy targets from 50% to 80%. The target is expected to be met by 2020.

By setting the ambitious target, Salmond has confirmed Scotland’s status as a global leader in the renewable energy field. Scotland now hosts a substantial number of wind farms and is expected to meet an interim target of 31% renewable energy by 2011.

Salmond said “Scotland is blessed with abundant natural energy sources…

What is Stopping the Severn Barrage?

The idea of an electricity generating tidal barrage across the Severn Estuary between England and Wales has been around for 160 years. Conceptually the Severn tidal barrage is a simple and green renewable energy technology in a location which has the second highest tidal range in the world (next to the bay of Fundy in Canada).

The Severn Barrage has had numerous advocates from James Lovelock and Tony Blair to the Welsh Assembly. Why is it then that every time the idea is resurrected by a new advocate it rapidly disappears from the headlines to sink back into the mudflats?

Dragon’s Den for Marine Energy

Marine renewable energy technologies are young but show much promise for the future. Although unlikely to be as commercially successful as wind energy in the short term, the profile of wave and tidal energy is likely to be much greater over the next few years.

The Carbon Trust told us several years ago that 20% of UK’s current electricity demands could be met by wave and tidal energy. The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition says 252 million megawatt hours a year could be generated off the coast of the US and the World Energy Council has said 1 million gigawatt hours of wave energy hits Australian shores annually.

Salazar Holds First Offshore Energy Public Meeting

Secretary Salazar believes that US offshore wind energy resources could lead America’s Clean Energy Revolution. Today he held the first of a series of public meetings to consult on a new offshore energy plan.

At a previous meeting with 25x’25 America’s Energy Future – a group seeking to reduce America’s carbon emissions – he said “More than three-fourths of the nation’s electricity demand comes from coastal states and the wind potential off the coasts of the lower 48 states actually exceeds our entire US electricity demand“.

Tidal Power One Step Further towards Reality in the UK?

5 tidal barrage and lagoon projects for the UK Severn Estuary were chosen for a government shortlist today.

The huge 10 mile long Cardiff Weston Barrage proposal from Weston Super Mare to Cardiff could generate as much as 5% of UK electricity requirements, whereas the smaller Bridgwater Bay Lagoon project between Hinkley Point and Weston Super Mare has the potential to generate just under 1%.