QAZAQ GREEN. Harnessing just 2% of the global potential of tidal and offshore solar energy could make a major contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions, according to a new international study by researchers from the Universities of Strathclyde (UK) and Maine (USA), University of Strathclyde reports.

The research, published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, is the first comprehensive global assessment of offshore renewable energy (ORE) sources. It analyzed more than 660 energy potential assessments across over 3,000 global locations.

Despite offering higher and more consistent energy yields than offshore wind and wave sources, tidal and offshore solar technologies remain largely underexplored. Offshore solar, in particular, was found to be more reliable and less variable—qualities that make it well-suited for inclusion in national and regional energy mixes.

Lead researcher James Spalding, a PhD student at the University of Strathclyde, noted that the team’s cross-regional and cross-technology comparison revealed untapped opportunities in renewable energy:

“By standardising data across resource types and locations, we have identified significant opportunities for clean energy that have so far been overlooked,” he said.

Underused, but Effective

The study found that most research has traditionally focused on offshore wind and wave power, which accounted for 75% of the energy assessments reviewed. In contrast, tidal and offshore solar—despite their strong theoretical output—have attracted much less academic and investment attention.

According to the analysis, using just an additional 2% of global tidal and offshore solar energy potential could reduce carbon emissions by nearly 0.3 gigatons annually. Based on current emissions levels (2019 baseline), this could achieve net-zero emissions within 68 years.

Strategic Potential for the Global South

ORE potential is estimated to be as much as twice the current global electricity demand. The study also highlighted the importance of ORE sources for lower-income countries with high dependency on fossil fuel imports. By developing untapped tidal and solar marine energy, these nations could increase their energy independence and move closer to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in Climate Action and Clean Energy.

Despite its promise, ocean energy made up less than 1% of the global energy mix in 2019. Most of this came from European projects focused on offshore wind, tidal current, and wave technologies.

The research covered six global regions: the eastern North Atlantic, Mediterranean, eastern North Pacific, coastal Asia, southern hemisphere, and the eastern North Atlantic (listed twice, possibly indicating sub-regions). It assessed six types of ORE technologies: offshore wind, wave, offshore solar, ocean currents, tidal range, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC).

With global renewable energy goals requiring at least 60% of total energy generation by 2030 and 80% by 2050, researchers believe these findings offer a crucial insight: the future of clean energy lies not just in mature technologies, but also in currently underutilized sources with high potential.