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Project examples below now use the official register. Search every recorded project and view individual pages β
Planning snapshot, not a live site meter. Capacities can refer to separate applications or development phases. Annual examples use MW Γ 8.76 Γ assumed load factor: 42% offshore wind, 28% onshore wind and 11% solar. These are illustrative scenarios, not measured output.The UK sits at the heart of one of the world's greatest tidal energy resources. Perfectly predictable, utterly renewable β tidal stream, tidal range and wave energy could power millions of UK homes. The technology is finally arriving.
Unlike wind and solar, tidal energy is completely predictable centuries in advance. The tides are driven by the moon and sun β forces no weather event can disrupt. This predictability makes tidal power uniquely valuable for grid planning. It doesn't need storage or backup β it just needs to be harnessed at the right locations. The UK has more of those locations than almost anywhere on Earth.
Underwater turbines placed in fast-flowing tidal channels β like wind turbines but beneath the sea surface. The UK's strongest tidal streams are in the Pentland Firth, Orkney and the Channel Islands.
West Anglesey Demonstration Zone, proximity of Holy Island, Isle of Anglesey
240 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Morlais Demonstration Zone is a 240 MW tidal stream project in Wales. The applicant or operator on record is Menter Mon Morlais. It is recorded as under construction since February 2022. The determining authority is Welsh Government (NSIP), reference DNS/3234121.
Developer: Menter Mon Morlais
View sourced project facts βPentland Firth, Off South Walls, Hoy, Orkney Islands, Orkney Islands, KW17
200 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Brims Tidal Array (Cantick Head) is a 200 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is DCNS OpenHydro/SSE Renewables. The scheme is currently in the planning system, submitted May 2016. The determining authority is Marine Scotland.
Developer: DCNS OpenHydro/SSE Renewables
View sourced project facts βoff of Fair Head, Northern Ireland, Offshore, BT54
100 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Fair Head is a 100 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is DP Marine Energy (DP Marine Energy & DEME Blue Energy). The scheme is currently in the planning system, submitted February 2017. The determining authority is Northern Ireland Planning Service.
Developer: DP Marine Energy (DP Marine Energy & DEME Blue Energy)
View sourced project facts βPentland Firth and Orkney waters strategic area, between Caithness on the Scottish mainland and the island of Stroma, Orkney Islands, KW1 4YL
59 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Inner Sound (Phase 2) (MeyGen) is a 59 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Atlantis Resources. Planning permission has been granted as of September 2013 and it is awaiting construction. The determining authority is Scottish Government (S36).
Developer: Atlantis Resources
View sourced project facts βS/O St Catherine's Point, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 2NF
30 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Perpetuus Tidal Project is a 30 MW tidal stream project in South East. The applicant or operator on record is Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre. Planning permission has been granted and it is awaiting construction. The determining authority is Isle of Wight.
Developer: Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre
View sourced project facts βIslay, Western Isles, Offshore
10 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Sound of Islay is a 10 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is The Islay Energy Trust/ Atlantis. Planning permission has been granted as of March 2011 and it is awaiting construction. The determining authority is Crown Estate.
Developer: The Islay Energy Trust/ Atlantis
View sourced project facts βSeastar Project, Orkney, Orkney Islands, KW16
10 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Oceanstar Project - Tidal Energy Farm is a 10 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Nova Innovation. Planning permission has been granted as of April 2024 and it is awaiting construction. The determining authority is Marine Scotland, reference 10649.
Developer: Nova Innovation
View sourced project facts βPentland Firth and Orkney waters strategic area, between Caithness on the Scottish mainland and the island of Stroma, Orkney Islands, KW1 4YL
6 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Inner Sound Phase 1A (MeyGen) is a 6 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Atlantis Resources. It is recorded as operational since February 2017. The determining authority is Scottish Government (S36).
Developer: Atlantis Resources
View sourced project facts βOrkney Waters, Orkney, Orkney Islands, KW15
4.8 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Orbital Eday 4, EMEC Fall of Warness - Tidal Energy Project is a 4.8 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Orbital Marine Power. The scheme is currently in the planning system, submitted December 2023. The determining authority is Marine Scotland.
Developer: Orbital Marine Power
View sourced project facts βSeastar Project, Orkney, Orkney Islands, KW16
4 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Seastar Project - Tidal Energy Farm is a 4 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Nova Innovation. Planning permission has been granted as of April 2024 and it is awaiting construction. The determining authority is Marine Scotland, reference 10650.
Developer: Nova Innovation
View sourced project facts βOrkney Waters, Orkney, Orkney Islands, KW15
2.4 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Orbital Eday 3, EMEC Fall of Warness - Tidal Energy Project is a 2.4 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Orbital Marine Power. The scheme is currently in the planning system, submitted December 2023. The determining authority is Marine Scotland.
Developer: Orbital Marine Power
View sourced project facts βFall of Warness, Eday, Orkney, Orkney Islands
2 MW Β· Official registered capacity
SR-2000 (FoW - EMEC) is a 2 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Scotrenewables. It is recorded as operational since April 2017. The determining authority is Scottish Government (S36), reference 15/031/S36CON.
Developer: Scotrenewables
View sourced project facts βFall of Warness, Eday, Orkney, Orkney Islands
2 MW Β· Official registered capacity
The Fall of Warness Tidal Scheme, (FoW - EMEC) is a 2 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Tocardo (EMEC). Planning permission has been granted as of August 2016 and it is awaiting construction. The determining authority is Crown Estate.
Developer: Tocardo (EMEC)
View sourced project facts βEMEC, Fall of Warness, Eday, Orkney, Orkney Islands
2 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Magallanes (FoW - EMEC) is a 2 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Magallanes Renovables. It is recorded as operational since March 2019. The determining authority is Scottish Government (S36).
Developer: Magallanes Renovables
View sourced project facts βBluemull Sound, Shetland,, Shetland
1.4 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Shetland Tidal Array (extension) is a 1.4 MW tidal stream project in Scotland. The applicant or operator on record is Nova Innovation. It is recorded as operational since January 2023. The determining authority is Marine Scotland.
Developer: Nova Innovation
View sourced project facts βBluemull Sound,, Shetland
0.5 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Shetland Tidal Array is a 0.5 MW tidal stream project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Nova Innovation. It is recorded as operational since June 2019. The determining authority is Marine Scotland.
Developer: Nova Innovation
View sourced project facts βThe UK has some of the world's largest tidal ranges. The Severn Estuary (14m tidal range) could generate ~5% of UK electricity from a barrage β but environmental concerns have stalled every proposal. Tidal lagoons offer a potentially less impactful alternative.
Wave energy is technically more difficult than tidal stream but the resource is enormous. The UK Atlantic coast has some of Europe's best wave energy conditions. Multiple technologies are being tested.
10 miles off shore Hayle, Cornwall coast, Offshore
23 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Hayle Wave Hub (Test Site) is a 23 MW wave energy project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Wave Hub. It is recorded as operational since September 2010. The determining authority is DECC (S36), reference S36.
Developer: Wave Hub
View sourced project facts βBilla Croo Test Site, Fall of Warness, Off Eday, Orkney Islands, Orkney Islands
20 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Billia Croo Wave Test Site (Extension) is a 20 MW wave energy project in Scotland. The applicant or operator on record is European Marine Energy Centre. The scheme is currently in the planning system, submitted June 2019. The determining authority is Marine Scotland.
Developer: European Marine Energy Centre
View sourced project facts βApproximately 2 km west from St Ann's Head at Long Point, Pembrokeshire, Offshore
7 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Milford Haven Wave Dragon Pre-Commercial Demonstrator is a 7 MW wave energy project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Unknown. The scheme is currently in the planning system, submitted February 2007. The determining authority is DECC (S36).
Developer: Unknown
View sourced project facts βFall of Warness, Off Eday, Orkney Islands, Orkney Islands
1 MW Β· Official registered capacity
Wello Penguin Device (Billia Croo - EMEC) is a 1 MW wave energy project in Offshore. The applicant or operator on record is Wello. It is recorded as operational since May 2008. The determining authority is Scottish Government (S36).
Developer: Wello
View sourced project facts βWave energy has proved more technically challenging than predicted. The harsh ocean environment damages devices faster than the energy they produce can justify at current scale. However, applications for remote power (oil rigs, subsea monitoring, aquaculture) are commercially viable at smaller scale β this is the current commercialisation path. UK's ORE Catapult supports wave device testing and scale-up.
Orkney is the world's capital of marine energy. The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has hosted more wave and tidal devices than any other site on the planet.
Founded 2003, based in Stromness, Orkney. Grid-connected wave test site at Billia Croo; tidal test site at Fall of Warness (Eday). 19 wave devices and 17 tidal devices have been tested to date.
Surplus tidal generation during off-peak periods can be used to make green hydrogen via electrolysis. In Orkney, community wind turbines already produce green hydrogen. Tidal stream's predictable generation profile makes it well-suited as a hydrogen feedstock alongside variable renewables.
Tidal is one piece of the UK's immense renewable resource. Discover wind, solar, storage and hydro.