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Wave Power

Asked by Debbie AbrahamsLabourDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 31 March 2026UIN 122693

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential contribution of wave power to the UK's renewable energy mix; and what steps his department is taking to support its deployment.

Answered by Michael Shanks

The Carbon Trust estimates the UK’s total wave resource to be around 230 TWh/year, with an exploitable resource of 40–50 TWh/year. However, wave energy is not yet commercially viable. The Government monitors progress closely and supports innovation through research funding programmes operated by UK Research and Innovation. As set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, emerging technologies may have a role to play in the longer term, subject to cost reduction, performance improvement and demonstrated scalability.

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