Scotland boasts an abundance of renewable energy resources, including some of the best wave and tidal resources in the world, which could harness over a gigawatt of electricity generating capacity. This would help support The Scottish Government progress and deliver its 2020 commitment of generating 40% of Scotland’s electricity from renewables, as well as help realise some astounding environmental and economic benefits for the people of Scotland.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is being undertaken for The Scottish Government (formerly the Scottish Executive). This will enable a better understanding of the environmental impacts from wave and tidal energy development around the west coast of Scotland from the North Channel northwards to Orkney and Shetland and the Pentland Firth. The SEA will also help shape planning guidance and steer project developers to the best sites for device deployment.

This website will allow stakeholders and the public to keep up-to-date with the progress of the SEA and act as a gateway to SEA reports and mapping, and other information of interest - particularly as the project enters its consultation phase.

The full Environmental Report, including Non-technical Summary, was published in March 2007. This marked the start of a wide-ranging consultation process, which finished in June 2007. The report summarising the Public Consultation Responses received was issued in mid-December 2007.

The website was last updated on 15 December 2007. It was developed, and is being maintained, by Metoc on behalf of the SEA.