UK: RYA Raises Concerns over Leases for Tidal Energy Projects

The RYA is concerned that leases for tidal energy projects at sites around the UK confirmed by the Crown Estate on 14 November, have been granted with no specific planning parameters that reference the safety of navigation for coastal mariners.

Stuart Carruthers, RYA Cruising Manager: “We are disappointed that the Crown Estate has leased the rights for three tidal energy projects in response to the application timeframe for the Saltire Prize worth £10 million and other demonstration projects rather than waiting for the outcome of its own industry engagement exercise.

 “We had understood that this would be used to inform and update the Crown Estate’s approach to wave and tidal leasing

 “In addition, as the RYA states in its response to the industry engagement exercise, there is currently a lack of detailed MCA navigation advice for developers that is specific to tidal energy development; this needs to be addressed.

 “Given that the coastal mariner may be using the same tidal streams for efficient passage planning, it is essential that the ‘planning basics for navigation’ are determined and agreed much as has been done for wind energy. We can see already that these lease agreements are in areas that are used by a variety of coastal traffic and recreational boats where under keel clearance will be a critical design factor.”

Crown Estate engagement exercise

The Crown Estate engagement exercise was launched in July and ended in September. It invited wave and tidal project developers to share their visions of future schemes, including where and when projects may be developed.

The exercise also sought suggestions about how The Crown Estate could further improve the way it provides seabed rights, both in the forms of rights provided and the leasing processes itself.

Impact of tidal energy projects can be minimised

 “The RYA has set out its position in relation to the development of offshore renewable tidal energy which is intended to enable developers accurately to take account of recreational boating when planning developments.

 “Provided these are fully considered, the RYA believes that the impact that offshore renewable tidal energy has on recreational boating can be minimised” concludes Stuart.

Image is of the world’s largest and most powerful single axis tidal turbine, the AK1000™ onshore at Invergordon, Scotland.

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Press release, November 19, 2012; Image: decc