A senseless omission: UK government misses another opportunity for tidal

Following the release of the British Energy Security Strategy in April in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, TPGen24 founder Stuart Murphy says the government is still missing the potential of tidal range generation to provide a steady supply of renewable power to replace coal and gas.

As we continue to rely on unsustainable energy sources, the pervasive threat of climate change still hangs over our world, threatening to exacerbate global environmental issues. Since the Russia-Ukraine war has further endangered our already fragile energy security in Europe, we risk reviving polluting fossil fuels to fill in the gaps during peak demand, when our temperamental weather doesn’t support renewable alternatives like wind and solar.

Following a wholly inadequate and retrograde energy policy update published in April, I believe the UK government must rethink how to address the energy demand and supply problem without continuing to rely on gas and coal for base load power (the minimum amount of electricity required to keep the lights on during peak demand). As I often point out, in order to meet demand, nuclear, biomass and imported power provide a steady base load of energy with gas and coal being constantly adjusted around intermittent renewable energy.

Currently, renewable energy sources provide only about 40% of the UK’s energy, and none of them can provide base load power. If, and it’s a big if, our net-zero 2050 objectives remain on track, we’ll need to take a far more diverse approach to our green energy infrastructure. Thus, it is time for us to start thinking about tidal, or more precisely, tidal range, as a big missing piece of the renewable puzzle.

Now is the time to commit

Our government, in its desire to try to please everybody at once, is on the verge of destroying itself. To put things in perspective, the average land temperature in the United Kingdom has risen by more than one degree Celsius since pre-industrial levels, while sea levels are rising and extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common sight.

Until now, the government has strongly supported wind and solar energy, which are two energy sources entrenched in the story of renewables. This may appear to be a sound investment on the surface, but as an intermittent source of energy, they cannot replace fossil fuels in their capacity to meet demand continuously.

However, neither the prior nor the most recent policies make specific mention of tidal range energy. Because tidal is the world’s only base load renewable energy source, I and many others believe this is a clear opportunity for 24/7 base load. With demand for power increasing as supplies are diminished, we must commit to investing in this severely under-explored renewables now, before it’s too late, for the sake of our already fragile environment and the UK economy.

Renewables in the UK today

Regrettably, as compared to solar and wind, the government has never recognised tidal range energy as a major renewable option. This is incredibly short-sighted, given that the UK boasts some of the best tidal ranges in the world, which can be found around the Welsh and English coasts. In essence, we are surrounded by one of our world’s most powerful forces, but we are hesitant to invest in it. I believe they are missing an opportunity, particularly in light of the present energy situation.

Tidal energy, unlike wind and solar, is not an intermittent source of energy as our seas supply a consistent, continuous force with rising and falling tides. If controlled appropriately, this force of nature may generate and store energy indefinitely. So all we have to do now is come up with a viable plan and the infrastructure to capture it.

My team and I at TPGen24 have been working toward this goal for a decade, and our newest calculations suggest that a turbine-stacked, sluiced, hybrid multi-lagoon and tank system, positioned in the optimal tidal ranges, can generate green energy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Even better, it can provide base load, allowing us to move away from gas and coal and toward lower-carbon alternatives such as nuclear and biomass.

Changing our outlook on tidal

A renewable energy source that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a game changer, but some individuals, particularly at the top echelons of energy policy, need convincing.

To those who say that tidal range energy is too expensive or that building a plant will take too long, I say you should think about the alternatives before making a final decision.

Even tried and tested solutions can come at a premium price, as evidenced by the escalating cost and extended timeframe of the already £25-26 billion Hinkley Point C nuclear power project. If we consider the potential power production of three large power islands, the prices may be comparable to those of a nuclear power plant without the issues surrounding waste disposal – still powering about six million homes.

Bringing coastal areas back to life

Tidal power investment will also provide a plethora of socioeconomic benefits, providing chances for people and businesses around the country. New developments can create jobs in a variety of industries, boosting the UK economy while also preserving the country’s position as a leader in green renewable energy.

Furthermore, investing in ailing coastal villages would result in more jobs and economic revitalization in some of the country’s poorest areas. Increased investment might help the UK become a leader in sustainable tidal energy, in addition to offering societal advantages.

Tidal is, in my opinion, the final major underutilised resource that deserves a seat at the policy table, and it has to be granted one now. Water is nature’s battery, and the sooner we start to make the most of its full potential as an energy source, the sooner we will be able to dig ourselves out of this apparently endless fossil fuel period.