For the first time Wales is to have a specific marine planning tool which will help to determine the future of its seas, as part of the strategic planning to enhance the marine environment while also generating clean green energy.
Photo: Jayanth Goulla
In 2019, the Government introduced Wales’s first marine plan, setting out the vision for sustainable development and establishing a new planning system. Now the Welsh Government have made ‘a significant step forward’ in the implementation of the plan by introducing new marine planning Strategic Resource Areas (SRAs), the first of which will be the introduction of SRAs for tidal stream energy.
In a written statement to the Seneddd, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs said: ‘Tidal stream is an emerging and innovative sector, developing cutting-edge technology to generate predictable and sustainable energy from our seas. It has the potential to play a significant role in decarbonising our energy system and achieving net zero, while offering high quality employment and supply chain opportunities for our coastal communities.’
According to the Welsh government, the SRAs will guide identifying areas with potential for future tidal stream energy projects. Despite safeguarding these zones for potential development, any proposal within an SRA will still undergo regulatory requirements to ensure environmental protection and mitigate social impacts.
Purpose of safeguarding resource for tidal stream
In a consultation from the Welsh Government in mid-2024, the purpose of SRAs and safeguarding resources was set out. In it the government stated that the identification of SRAs for tidal stream energy does not indicate any planning intent regarding preferred locations for tidal stream development. There is no requirement for the sector to bring forward proposals to locate within an SRA, nor are proposals to locate outside an SRA precluded. Proposals for tidal stream energy development can come forward and be considered on their individual merits both within or outside an SRA.
SRAs alert those proposing future development to the presence of areas of tidal stream energy resource, which they otherwise might not have considered. This should ensure that these areas are not unnecessarily or inappropriately sterilised, whilst allowing other development to proceed where adequate compatibility can be achieved or there is a clear and convincing case for proceeding.
‘Tidal stream is a sector at the early stage of development and comes at a time when our seas are becoming ever more busy. It is therefore important that we provide certainty through marine planning on the long-term availability of key areas with potential to support future activity.
This does not mean that proposals for development in these areas would be approved. All proposals, whether within or outside of an SRA, will have to apply for proper consents and must satisfy rigorous regulatory requirements on environmental protection and social impact,’ added Irranca-Davies.
Map: Refined Resource Area and Strategic Resource Areas for tidal stream energy. Source: Welsh Government
Tidal stream ‘ringfence’
According to Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, tidal energy has the potential to provide 11.5 GW to the UK energy system, 11% of the UK’s electricity demand, and tidal stream projects could contribute up to £17 billion to the UK economy by 2050.
Offshore Energy reported that the UK government raised the funding for tidal stream ringfence in the 2024 renewable auction from £10 million (approximately $12,8 million) to a £15 million (approximately $19,2 million) budget.
Further information and the document ‘Welsh National Marine Plan: Marine Planning Notice – Introduction of Strategic Resource Areas and Activation of Safeguarding Policy for Tidal Stream Energy’ can be read online.