logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
18m 26s

Is tidal power a viable energy source?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

The Pentland Firth is the strait that lies between the far north of mainland Scotland and the Orkney Islands.

It's a wild area with some of the fastest tides in the world, where the power of the sea is being harnessed by tidal turbines sitting on the sea bed.

But this type of green energy is still very expensive to generate - so what is the future of tidal and wave power?

We explore some of the ground breaking projects being developed in the region and speak to companies who are trying to reduce costs to make the energy more viable.

Produced and presented by Theo Leggett

(Image: A MeyGen turbine being installed on the sea bed. Credit: MeyGen)

Up next
Today
Gates Foundation CEO on cuts to global aid
As governments cut back on how much they spend on global aid, the head of the Gates Foundation Mark Suzman speaks exclusively to Business Daily about how the world’s poorest are being affected. He tells us world governments “should be embarrassed” that the Foundation has overtake ... Show More
19 m
Yesterday
Can Starbucks regain its buzz?
It’s probably the world’s best-known coffee chain but just over a year ago, business wasn’t doing well. Sales had slipped, customers were drifting away and the buzz had gone. Newly-arrived CEO Brian Niccol was handed a tough task: stop the fall and make the coffee shops somewhere ... Show More
17m 28s
Jan 30
The man who built Africa's largest AI firm
From the deserts of Tunisia to the boardrooms of global tech giants, we meet Karim Beguir, the mathematician who turned two laptops and 2000 dollars into Africa’s biggest AI firm. We hear how his company, Instadeep, caught the attention of Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and how it helpe ... Show More
19m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
Turning the tides into renewable energy
<p>Companies around the world are trying to harness the power of the tides to create a renewable energy source. Canada’s <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-bay-of-fundy-tidal-electricity/">Bay of Fundy is a promising place </a>to do it because it has the hi ... Show More
19m 49s
Oct 2021
Could we completely switch to renewable energy?
<p>As the world slowly moves away from using fossil fuels for electricity, one tiny Scottish island has proved it’s possible to rely almost entirely on renewables.</p><p>The inner Hebridean isle of Eigg used to get its power from diesel generators. But in 2008 its residents launc ... Show More
34m 40s
Jan 2015
Is it Time to End Subsidies for Wave and Tidal Energy?
Progress in wave and tidal energy hasn’t been slow – it’s been nonexistent. Despite media attention, strategic investments from large energy companies and strong support from national governments, the marine renewables industry has seen mostly technical failure over the last deca ... Show More
36m 49s
Apr 2023
Is Geothermal Power The Key To Stabilizing The Grid?
<p>Alternative sources of power are moving into the spotlight.</p><p>As the share of dispatchable power in our electricity system declines, with coal-fired plants giving way to variable wind and solar, maintaining reliable supplies to keep the lights on becomes more complex. Inve ... Show More
58m 45s
Jun 2022
The EU's Plan For Energy Self-Sufficiency
<p>The energy crisis is showing no signs of abating. There’s a shortage of energy, and the world’s efforts to transition to low-carbon energy are met with countless hurdles. </p><p>Countries around the world are taking steps to mitigate the crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of U ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 2023
Green and novel: the future of energy generation
Energy accounts for more than three-quarters of our greenhouse gas emissions globally each year. That’s not surprising, given the role of energy in almost every aspect of modern life. To stand any chance of hitting net zero climate targets, we need to accelerate the transition to ... Show More
57m 38s