UK energy minister backs marine energy

London (Platts)--30Jun2006

The UK should work to build its domestic wave and tidal power industries,
including drafting a policy for development in the nation's offshore waters,
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said late Thursday.
Appearing at a news conference in London at which a business-industry
alliance issued a long-term strategy for marine energy development, Wicks
said:
"It's sheer common sense to use the power we have on this island."
The UK boasts 35% of Europe's wave resources and half its tidal
resources, according to the report, "The Path to Power: Delivering Confidence
in Britain's Wave and Tidal Stream Industry."
The Labour government has earmarked GBP 50 ($90.744, Eur72.463) million
for marine energy and has spent GBP8-million, Wicks noted. He emphasized the
need for a national policy on offshore development that would avoid potential
conflicts among users, including the fishing industry and marine energy
generators.
"What's important is that we move toward national spatial planning to
look at difficult questions of competing interests" and the need to protect
the offshore environment, he said.
The energy minister declined to respond to several questions about the
conclusions of the government's energy review, which is expected to be
released next month, including the government's stance on nuclear energy. But
he emphasized the need for the UK to tap every practical source of power, and
said a "step change" is needed in national attitudes to support renewable
energy.
"The answer has to be multifaceted. You have to throw everything at it,"
Wicks said.
"The challenges are so great that we'll need investments across many
fronts."
The marine energy strategy, issued by a consortium that includes Npower
Renewables, the British Wind Energy Association and Greenpeace, urged the
government to close technology funding gaps to enable wave and tidal energy
developers to make the jump from demonstration projects to commercialization;
resolve questions of grid access, particularly in Scotland; and clarify the
rules for planning and permitting of marine energy technology.
With proper policy and financial support, marine energy could supply 2.1%
of UK electricity demand by 2020 and 15-20% of the nation's long-term power
needs, according to the strategy.

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