Tidal Stream Energy Resource Area

Resource Areas (RAs) are broad areas that describe, for some sectors, the distribution of a particular resource that has the potential to be used or is used. The Tidal Stream Energy RAs were derived from The Crown Estate’s (TCE’s) Key Resource Areas (KRAs) (The Crown Estate, 2013) and areas defined in the Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework (RPS, 2011). TCE areas were based on a minimum mean peak spring current of 1.5 m/s and a minimum depth of 5 m (The Crown Estate, 2013). The MRESF dataset was created by RPS (2011) to show potential tidal stream and wave energy resource areas in Welsh waters. The MRESF and TCE KRAs were merged to form the tidal stream energy RA.

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Derivation of RAs

Resource Areas (RAs) are broad areas that describe for some sectors the distribution of a particular resource that has the potential to be used or is used.

RA derivation does not include environmental factors, the assessment of which must be undertaken before issuing a licence; at which point more detail is known on any proposal.

Please refer to the full RA derivation text for this sector and others.