GREAT BRITAIN SEEKS NEW DOMINION OF THE SEA

Recognizing that wave energy has the potential to provide 20% of UK power, a government advisory board called for stepped up development. This is especially important in the UK because an ahead-of-its-time $97 million subsidy to wave/tide/current was squandered. Rather than turn its back on the enormous potential, the British want to learn from previous mistakes.

A highly placed German government official recently confided to NewEnergyNews that Europeans welcome the price of New Energy development. They may suffer with higher prices now, the official said, but they will be laughing at the U.S. after 2010 when ever-increasing energy demand drives Old Energy prices yet higher. While the U.S. struggles with that worsening economic burden, the EU will reap its reward. Its New Energy infrastructure will be built and they will be enjoying the benefits of an endless supply of wind and sun and waves.

Some of the best sites for wave energy potential in the world are around the British Isles. No UK government is going to let that kind of resource go to waste just because their early projects taught them costly lessons. (click to enlarge)

UK panel urges stronger push toward wave energy
February 7, 2008 (Houston Chronicle)

WHO
The Renewables Advisory Board marine group to the UK Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform; Malcolm Wicks, UK minister responsible for energy

WHAT
The Renewables Advisory Board marine group called for stepped up development of wave energy through increased research.

The UK's Wave Hub experimental development off Cornwall will give a variety of wave energy technologies a chance to prove themselves. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
The EU in February has asked the UK to obtain 20% of its electricity from renewables by 2020.

WHERE
The advisory board called for a collaborative research effort from utilities, government and academia.

WHY
- The failure of earlier wave energy projects is due to a variety of factors including a very harsh UK ocean environment as well as inadequate academic preparations, inadequate environmental assessment and unexpectedly high costs.
- The UK’s huge potential wave energy capacity is due to a coastline longer than almost any other EU nation.

A study done for Florida Governor Crist highlighted some of the benefits from developing wave energy. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Renewables Advisory Board marine group: "The technical challenges, particularly of operating in a marine environment, are great and perhaps more difficult than originally expected…Over-optimism in the industry has also served to create higher expectations for the technologies…Lack of cooperation has led to an inefficient and wasteful use of resources…"
- Malcolm Wicks, UK minister responsible for energy: "[The government is] considering the recommendations…[The report] confirms the potential of wave and tidal to contribute significantly to our renewable energy and climate-change targets…"