THERE’S a phenomenon in physics known as interference, when two waves travelling in opposite directions meet; when constructive, it makes a bigger wave, when destructive, the water goes flat.

I was pondering this as I watched wave power in action at European Marine Energy Centre’s wave test site at Billia Croo on the Orkney Isles, wondering how political interference in this crucial sector will pan out.

At the moment Scotland is leading the world in wave and tidal energy technology by a country mile. We have the marine engineering knowledge, a supportive government in Edinburgh, and distinct natural advantages over other coastal nations. We are perfectly placed to convert this work into a major commercial success.

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Yet the industry is at a critical juncture, and the UK has a track record of squandering leads. Lots of countries are peeking over our shoulder and fancy getting in on the action. The Scottish Government have grasped this danger. They have put mechanisms in place to encourage investors and launched Wave Energy Scotland to help develop technologies for the commercial market. But energy policy is reserved and the UK Government’s enthusiasm for marine renewables has fluctuated from lukewarm at best to as chilly as the waters around us.

The removal of ring-fenced subsidies in energy policy could choke growth just at the point when the first array of commercial projects need support to develop, test and sell on the market.

As a result, sadly, we already see companies being forced to go elsewhere. Sustainable Marine Energy Ltd has transferred most of their operations to Canada, and others could follow. More supportive energy policy in competitors like Ireland, Portugal or France are a major market pull.

We can’t allow this potential to be thrown away. We did it before, blundering over wind energy while the Danes grasped the mettle.

Denmark are now the undisputed kings and queens of wind power. The Danish Government showed long term political vision, creating a new market for their agricultural business sector through building wind turbines instead of tractors and by providing consistent financial support to capture the economic benefits of the R&D.

Now Denmark’s global energy exports compare in scale to defence exports in the UK. They make money from wind while we make it from weapons. Let’s not make the same mistakes again.

It’s not too late to convince hearts and minds in the UK Government to help us do with waves and tidal streams what Denmark did with wind. Marine renewables has the potential to create a technology led export sector and displace natural gas generation on the grid.

It particularly fits the aim to decentralise as well as decarbonise the economy. The tide sweeps around these islands. An industry reliant on this natural asset would do the same.

50-60% of the added value and jobs would be created in coastal areas. You don’t get much more of a northern powerhouse than the sea around Orkney and the Shetlands.

I remain hopeful the UK Government will be convinced of the benefits of working with the Scottish Government to create something bigger from our waves, and abandon the folly of Hinckley C.

As von Goethe said: “by seeking and blundering we learn.” We blundered over wind and missed the boat. We must switch tack if we’re not going to do the same with marine renewables.

Those Brexiteers longing for the days when “Britannia rules the waves” as a dominant maritime economy may actually have a chance to see their dreams come to fruition, although not perhaps in the way they had in mind.