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Riding the wave: UK tidal energy development prospects surge
9/4/2025
8 min read
Feature
Tidal energy developments are set to surge in the UK’s renewable supply mix for ambitious marine engineers and developers. According to recent research by Offshore Renewable Energy, Catapult and Imperial College London, tidal energy could potentially provide 11.5 GW to the energy system, satisfying11% of national demand. Moreover, its predictability is an attraction, given variable sources such as wind and solar which can pose grid integration challenges. Andrew Mourant reports.
Tidal stream projects received a shot in the arm after the government ring-fenced funding within its Contracts for Difference (CfD) mechanism. Rounds 4 and 5 of CfD’s renewable auctions secured over 40 MW and 50 MW respectively. Round 6 resulted in six projects across five sites securing contracts to deliver 28 MW at a rate of £172/MWh.
The beneficiaries include HydroWing, due to deliver 10 MW in Wales, while MeyGen (9 MW), Seastar (4 MW), Magallanes (3 MW), and Ocean Star Tidal (2 MW) should collectively contribute 18 MW in Scotland. Scotland now has 83 MW and Wales 38 MW of contracted tidal stream capacity through CfD auctions. Notably, Round 6’s strike price was the lowest since ring-fencing began.
British engineering expertise in tidal stream is being tapped into across the world. For example, a contract in the Philippines has been awarded to Inyanga Marine Energy Group (of which HydroWing is part) to create a small-scale 1 MW project, serving an off-grid island currently reliant on a 750 kW diesel plant. It will install turbines and connect to the microgrid network; and couple with solar PV (photovoltaic) and energy storage.