Professional Engineering

Tidal energy has the most potential to provide clean energy. As long as we are surrounded by sea and the moon continues to orbit the Earth, the tide will continue to rise and fall without any reliance on the weather and without the hazards of nuclear energy.
Steve Henderson, Birmingham

I don’t think we want to put all our renewable energy eggs in one technology basket. A mixture of technologies has to be a good thing, plus a government that’s committed to keeping the funding flowing and good transmission solutions from wild, windy, wavy parts of the UK to power-hungry southern cities.
Stuart Brown, Dundee

There are plenty of renewable technologies with the potential to make a difference – the question is how much we’re willing to pay. In the short term Tilbury power station’s conversion from coal to biomass will add a big chunk of relatively cheap, green megawatts to the system, if the fuel can be sourced responsibly.
Chris Taylor, Nottingham

Wave energy because it is a constant source and effects on marine life are insignificant compared to the importance of us humans being able to have an undisturbed landscape.
Sasha Gallagher, Walsall

One of the most promising units for producing predictable timed contributions to clean energy is tidal flow generators. Pressing problems arise from the shortage of experienced engineers. Politicians and industry leaders require the courage to finance relevant research and development to overcome the hazards of deep-sea operations.
Ronald Quartermaine, Perth

Wind power seems to be missing its potential because of objections to new windfarms. The IMechE should be doing more to allay people’s misgivings. We need a mix of energy sources to cope with varying weather conditions.
Simon Stevens, Solihull 

Soundbites extra

Nuclear is the only answer. It is better from a financial and certainty of supply perspective (the wind doesn't always blow!). The major hurdle to overcome is public perception. Fukushima was 1960's technology and the earthquake was one of the worst the modern world has experienced.
Scott Witting, Scunthorpe

I think that tidal stream power has the greatest chance of providing our future electricity needs. The engineering challenge is to reduce the costs of short-term energy storage to smooth out the demand. This requires political will to back a technology.
Ian Bonnar

Tidal plus the necessary means to store the energy, unless the moon falls from orbit the tides will turn twice per day. Wind power is totally the wrong direction.
Ian Rushworth

Offshore wind turbines would seem to provide Britain with the greatest potential for clean, renewable energy. However making this economic whilst competing with existing offshore industries for experienced people, vessels and manufacturing facilities will be a challenge.
Iain Knight, Streatley

Marine wind, wave and tidal generation all have great potential for providing us with sustainable and accessible eco-friendly power. They may not yet be cheap but when the oil and gas start to run out they will become ever more sought-after. There is a great opportunity for the UK to build our manufacturing economy for many years to come. Let’s not waste it.
Steve Gallimore

The greatest potential must be Tidal and Wave power. 
While wind power is probably cheaper and easier to construct the impact on the visual environment is far greater and causes more problems than constructions which are either partially or totally submerged and out of sight.
Consistency of the sources of tidal and wave power is also better than wind power. Use of rivers and streams must also be re-developed in more rural areas.
Ian Bithell, Stillingfleet, York