The impact of Brexit on the marine renewable energy industry in the UK

Climate change and renewable energy targets have stimulated the growth and investment in marine renewable energies (MREs), that refers to the energy created by offshore wind, tidal and wave devices. However, with the referendum to separate from the EU commonly referred to as Brexit, uncertainty over the future of MRE in the UK exists. The purpose of this research was to explore the impacts of Brexit on the UK MRE industry. A state of knowledge review of the MRE industry in the UK provided the foundation. This was supported by a content analysis which identified seven main themes in the literature review. Following this state of knowledge review, additional content analysis identified the impact of Brexit on the MRE sector. Three main categories emerged from the research which shaped the discussion on Brexit; legislation and regulations, funding and investment and the supply chain. Indeed, depending on the type of Brexit chosen by the UK and the EU, the intensity of the consequences will vary. A “no-deal” Brexit would put pressure on legislation, funding and the supply chain, thus jeopardizing the MRE industry’s leadership, while a “Norwegian model” would enable the UK to maintain a similar relationship with the EU. The thesis concludes with insights and recommendations on how the MRE industry can be sustained and reach its potential in the UK following Brexit