Technologies and innovation for system change in the UK: status, prospects and system requirements of some leading renewable energy options

This paper discusses the prospects for some of the leading options that could help deliver 20% of UK electricity from renewable energy by 2020, with a detailed focus on wind, wave and tidal stream. The paper discusses current and future costs, market development and technological challenges. It also discusses some of the main system costs (such as balancing intermittency and transmission upgrade) associated with such changes.