The Department of Energy and Climate Change (UK) has commissioned a study that should give us a better understanding of whether English and Welsh marine energy potential can sustain marine energy devices for commercial scale use as well as the time frames for the installation and commission of multiple devices. The study will build upon data already gathered for the offshore Energy SEA, the Welsh Energy Strategic Plan, as well as other studies.

DECC will seek input from developers, utilities and other relevant bodies about plans and preferred locations for the development of commercial scale marine energy systems. DECC will also try to identify and fill in gaps in data needed for putting in place a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) for marine energy systems in England and Wales.

The scoping study will not include the Severn Estuary, because the area is already subject to a separate feasibility study, which should help the government determine whether this is a location with enough potential for a tidal power project.