Island representatives met at the Channel Island Marine Renewable Energy Forum on Monday for a progress report on the issue.

BBC: Channel Islands call for co-operation on renewable energy

Sea Watch said the work would involve an area of sea between Caithness and Orkney where offshore marine renewable energy is to be installed next year.

BBC: Survey to seek out killer whales off Caithness coast

It is claimed the scheme, based at the city's university, will create jobs and drive business growth in the region's marine, maritime and renewable energy sectors.

BBC: Plymouth marine innovation centre secures ?2m funding

Marine energy is currently some way behind other forms of renewable energy in its development.

BBC: Marine power schemes given cash boost

They have vast arable land for agriculture, large rainforests that play a crucial role in combating global warming, great biodiversity, abundant renewable energy resources, enormous reserves of fresh water and precious marine and coastal resources.

FORBES: Wolfensohn, UN Warn Millennium Goals Won't Be Met Without LDCs

"The RSEP program is a key initiative in the Marine Corps' expeditionary power systems portfolio for advanced power sources that embrace renewable energy systems as a means to reduce fossil fuel requirements, " said Mike Gallagher, program manager for expeditionary power systems at Marine Corps Systems Command, which will work with ONR to transition the technology to the field.

ENGADGET: Marines eye solar energy to eliminate dependency on fuel generators (video)