Beneath 40 meters (44 yards) of water off Scotland’s coast, a tidal turbine has been steadily generating electricity for over six years — a milestone that signals real progress in the push for commercially viable ocean energy.
Operating continuously in the harsh marine environment for that long sets a new benchmark for durability at grid scale, according to Ocean Energy Europe. It’s a key achievement that could accelerate the growth of larger tidal energy farms and increase investor confidence. Frequent maintenance or removal would make such projects cost-prohibitive, so longevity like this is critical.
Although tidal energy remains in the early stages of commercialization, its potential is vast. The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory notes that marine energy — encompassing power from tides, waves, currents, and ocean temperature differences — is the largest untapped source of renewable energy on the planet.
