Marine tidal energy: A case study in legislative challenges and environmental impacts

With the international pressure mounting on first world and developing countries to respond to climate change by targeted reductions in carbon emissions and their overall carbon footprint, increasing focus is being placed on the exploration of new and renewable energy sources using innovative and emerging technologies, such as marine tidal turbines. In pursuing new energy sources, governments must put in place a clear and consistent national energy strategy that addresses the use of renewable energy sources as well as the environmentally sustainable use of traditional energy sources. The national energy strategy must also place a strong emphasis on energy conservation as well as emphasize integrated solutions, solutions that make use of the best available technologies and can be readily tailored to local requirements. Such solutions evolve as technologies change, and provide a wide range of choices to meet varying social, economic and environmental conditions. As these solutions evolve, so must the legislative framework evolve to ensure these solutions are developed and operated not only for the social and economic benefits they offer, but also to cater for their potential environmental impacts. Marine tidal turbines harvest energy by the rising and falling of the sea and the tidal stream across turbine rotors which generate electricity to the grid. The United Kingdom is a world leader in development and application of this technology. This paper examines the key areas in developing Marine Tidal Energy (MTE) as a source of renewable energy; the level of maturity in legislation, development of technology and the potential environmental impacts to marine life.