Crown Estate Scotland (CES) is set to engage with tidal and wave developers to gather insights for shaping future leasing opportunities. Collaborating with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, CES announced plans for an extensive survey to delve into the state of the sector. The survey aims to gather views and ideas from developers focused on the next generation of wave and tidal technologies, and the collected information will influence CES's decisions regarding forthcoming leasing rounds.

This process will gauge developers' interest in future leasing opportunities and provide updates on ongoing projects, including development plans and schedules. Additionally, CES intends to gather opinions on potential enhancements that can foster the growth of the broader tidal and wave sectors.

Since 2017, leases for tidal stream and wave energy projects of up to 30MW have been awarded on a case-by-case basis, evaluated against individual merit using specific criteria. The sector achieved dedicated funding within the fourth round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme in late 2021, following persistent advocacy from the industry and political stakeholders.

These recent "significant developments," coupled with the endorsement of wave and tidal energy in the Scottish Government Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, have prompted CES to contemplate the management of future processes. As reliance solely on strike prices raises concerns as a benchmark for bid assessment, the sector has advocated for the incorporation of deployment targets in future rounds to bolster the expansion of wave and tidal resources.

Sustaining long-term viability is crucial; while the sector has witnessed notable successes, it has also faced challenges and setbacks. Meanwhile, a recent study by the University of Edinburgh has suggested that the UK could save billions by fostering closer collaboration with European counterparts in the industry.

Caitlin Byers, the Development Manager at Crown Estate Scotland, remarked on the survey's launch, highlighting Scotland's potential as a leader in tidal and wave energy development due to its abundant resources. By gathering insights from developers regarding their future project pipelines, CES aims to ensure that its leasing opportunities align with the evolving needs of the tidal stream and wave energy sectors in the years ahead.

ORE Catapult will administer the survey throughout August, and a summary of anonymized key findings is anticipated to be released later this year.