While it's true that alternative energy has developed in fits and starts over the past several decades, marine energy seems to have been especially susceptible to the ebb and flo of opinion and policy.

But the United Kingdom—a world leader in offshore water-driven power—just signalled that the tide is back in for marine energy companies.

At the beginning of July the UK government authorized the issuance of the first Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) for marine energy to Marine Current Turbines, a British firm.

Marine Current Turbines focuses on harnessing the power of tides around the UK, and its SeaGen generation system was deemed worthy of ROCs after a 1.2 megawatt axial flow turbine system was successfully installed and operated in Northern Ireland.

That project at Strangford Lough has served around 1,000 nearby homes with power through grid connections, but the effectiveness of tidal energy does not necessarily lead to a bottom-up demand and supply cycle as we have seen with rooftop solar installations, for example.

"There is effectively no market to pull marine energy forward," MCT managing director Martin Wright said in a statement. "It will be vital that the government. . . takes urgent action."

Now reinforced by London support, MCT will transform into a larger company that can bring SeaGen to larger, commercial-scale applications.