POWER FROM THE SEA – UTOPIA OR REALITY?

Tides and waves carry enormous energy. Decades ago, visionary engineers and scientists recognised the potential of generating power from the sea, foreseeing its role in the future energy transition. Yet, despite many positive signs, a major breakthrough has yet to happen. The film asks why and embarks on a fascinating journey along Europe’s coastlines – from Brittany and Scotland to the Faroe Islands. In Saint Malo, France, the world’s first commercial tidal power plant has been reliably generating electricity for nearly 60 years. Yet, despite its success, marine energy remains a marginal player globally. Current figures show that less than one percent of renewable energy today comes from tidal and wave power. Why is this so? From a steel “Sea Snake” designed to convert Scottish waves into electricity to a kind of underwater wind turbine – the film follows these promising developments over a period of more than 20 years and reveals why these new technologies often struggle to gain a foothold. For a variety of surprising reasons, as scientists and engineers explain.Whether through tidal power plants, ocean currents or wave energy – the sea represents an almost limitless source of energy. Yet despite decades of research and promising pilot projects, marine energy technologies have yet to achieve a significant breakthrough on a global scale. Why does marine energy fall short of its potential?