Marine Energy Conference 2026 - Newcastle
10/03/2026, 08:30 (GMT) Add To Calendar
Global Underwater Hub - Newcastle
Registrations for this event have now closed - please contact events@theguh.co.uk for further enquiries.
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Global Underwater Hub and the Marine Energy Council are hosting a one-day event focused on marine energy, which will take place on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 in the event studio at Global Underwater Hub's north of England office in Newcastle.
Please note: This event is a repeat of the October 2025 session and will feature the same speakers and content. Keep this in mind when booking.
Marine Energy 2026 will explore the latest advancements in wave and tidal energy, an area of great opportunity for the UK. During the first part of the day, attendees will gain firsthand insight into new technologies, industry trends and an overview of the market opportunity.
The second part of the day will be a stakeholder engagement event, hosted as part of the Marine Energy Taskforce (MET). This 12-month initiative was launched by the Energy Minister, Michael Shanks MP, in June and will develop a roadmap, accompanied by a series of recommendations for the UK Government. The session is designed to gather the thoughts and opinions of attendees around the four themes that are key to supporting the development of marine energy sector – site development, financing, innovation and supply chain growth.
Tidal stream projects are currently being deployed with over 80% UK supply chain content spend. The MET will seek to set out how UK content can be embedded in projects deployed here and around the world.
Marine Energy 2026 will explore the latest advancements in wave and tidal energy, an area of great opportunity for the UK. During the first part of the day, attendees will gain firsthand insight into new technologies, industry trends and an overview of the market opportunity.
The second part of the day will be a stakeholder engagement event, hosted as part of the Marine Energy Taskforce (MET). This 12-month initiative was launched by the Energy Minister, Michael Shanks MP, in June and will develop a roadmap, accompanied by a series of recommendations for the UK Government. The session is designed to gather the thoughts and opinions of attendees around the four themes that are key to supporting the development of marine energy sector – site development, financing, innovation and supply chain growth.
Tidal stream projects are currently being deployed with over 80% UK supply chain content spend. The MET will seek to set out how UK content can be embedded in projects deployed here and around the world.
Event speakers
Marine Energy 2026 will be chaired by Sue Bartlett-Reed, who has over 20 years of experience in the wind, wave and tidal sectors and is chair of the UK Marine Energy Council. The full programme is currently being finalised and will be published shortly, but other confirmed speakers are:
Marine Energy 2026 will be chaired by Sue Bartlett-Reed, who has over 20 years of experience in the wind, wave and tidal sectors and is chair of the UK Marine Energy Council. The full programme is currently being finalised and will be published shortly, but other confirmed speakers are:
- Eileen Linklater, EMEC
- Fraser Johnson, Meygen
- Oliver Wragg, Orbital Marine Power
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About marine energy
As an island nation, there is a huge opportunity for the United Kingdom to harness the power of the seas and waters that surround it to generate clean, green renewable energy. The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in the Orkney Islands has provided a platform for the testing and development of wave and tidal devices for over 20 years, while other test and demonstrator facilities are located around the UK.
The UK has over 30GW of marine energy potential and has the capability to lead the world in developing, deploying and exporting marine energy technologies.
There is currently 10MW of tidal stream capacity deployed and an additional 120MW to be deployed by 2028, thanks to three consecutive ringfences in the UK’s renewable auctions. Wave energy is the world’s largest untapped energy resource, with a generating potential that is ten-times greater than Europe’s annual electricity consumption.
A recent report by the University of Edinburgh found that by 2050 tidal stream and wave energy could:
- Produce over £50bn+ GVA to the UK economy
- Support 90,000 high value jobs across the UK
- Power 11m homes annually.
The marine energy space is one which is growing, offering many opportunities to innovate. In addition, it provides companies with an option for diversification.
Along with learning about the challenges and opportunities in the marine energy space, attendees to Marine Energy 2026 will hear from the companies developing these projects. Speakers will discuss what these projects and their companies need from the supply chain, government and financial companies to ensure the wave and tidal sectors can thrive as part of the energy mix as the UK looks to de-carbonise its energy system.
Join this one-day event to hear about the latest market and project developments, while discovering the opportunities marine energy offers companies in the UK underwater supply chain.
Who should attend
This one-day event focuses on wave and tidal energy is expected to welcome a range of stakeholders, including:
- Project developers
- Tier 1 subsea contractors
- Original equipment manufacturers
- Government authorities
- Financial companies
- Consenting authorities
Why attend
Marine Energy 2026 is set to bring together stakeholders from across the wave and tidal energy sectors to explore opportunities and discuss challenges in a relatively untapped field that has significant economic potential for the United Kingdom. Not only do the waters off the UK coast offer enormous potential to generate electricity and support the drive to net-zero, but the UK is seen as a world leader in the development, testing and operation of wave and tidal systems, creating a potential export market.
Attending this one-day event in Newcastle will offer delegates the opportunity to:
- Learn about different wave and tidal technologies
- Discover the market potential in UK waters for marine energy
- Hear how the UK continues to be a world leader in this field
- Be informed about the global market potential of marine energy
- Explore the challenges facing the wave and tidal sector
- Find out what support the sector needs to flourish
- Contribute to shaping the work being undertaken by the Marine Energy Taskforce
- Meet, network and build connections with colleagues from across the wave and tidal energy sector and wider underwater industry
This is your opportunity to learn about a consistent and complimentary source of energy, examine the market challenges, build your network and explore potential collaborative opportunities, and contribute valuable perspectives that will help shape feedback to government. Register today to be part of these discussions on Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Booking details
Registration for this marine energy event, organised by Global Underwater Hub in partnership with the Marine Energy Council, is open, with discounts available for members of both organisations.
| GUH and MEC members: individual ticket | £50 + VAT | |
| Non-member: individual ticket | £100 + VAT |
Please note: This event is a repeat of the October 2025 session and will feature the same speakers and content. Keep this in mind when booking.
Booking for this event is scheduled to close on Friday, 6 March 2026 at 12:00. However, please note that tickets are limited and may sell out before this date, so we encourage you to secure your place as soon as possible.
Please note that ticket prices on the booking page are inclusive of VAT. For details of our event terms and conditions, click here.
Booking for this event is scheduled to close on Friday, 6 March 2026 at 12:00. However, please note that tickets are limited and may sell out before this date, so we encourage you to secure your place as soon as possible.
Please note that ticket prices on the booking page are inclusive of VAT. For details of our event terms and conditions, click here.
Venue
This event will take place in the event studio at Global Underwater Hub's premises at Walker Riverside, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. The office is situated opposite Shepherd Offshore's Offshore Technology Park. There is an onsite car park. A regular bus service is accessible within a short walk, while Newcastle Central Railway Station is within reach by taxi.
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Global Underwater Hub 1 Wincomblee Road Walker Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE6 3PF |
Sponsorship
Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event, offering a platform to align your brand with this marine energy event.
Download the sponsorship pack HERE.
For further information on the opportunities available, contact our events team on events@theguh.co.uk or call 01224 506600.
For further information on the opportunities available, contact our events team on events@theguh.co.uk or call 01224 506600.
About the UK Marine Energy Council
The Marine Energy Council is the trade association and representative body for the UK’s tidal stream and wave energy industries. Established in 2018, it is committed to realising the potential of tidal stream and wave energy to support a secure, cost-effective transition to net-zero and make the UK attractive to renewable investors.
Discover more about the UK Marine Energy Council on its website.
About Global Underwater Hub
Global Underwater Hub is the leading trade and industry development body for the UK’s underwater sectors. A member-led organisation, GUH represents the diverse range of businesses operating across the UK’s £9.2billion underwater industry, facilitating cross-sector collaboration and growth. Find out more about becoming a member.