Creating the world’s first tidal energy lagoon in the Severn Estuary could boost economic growth and provide reliable renewable energy, a commission has found.
Ministers have been urged to “act now” after the findings of the independent Severn Estuary Commission, which has spent 12 months taking evidence from more than 500 experts to determine whether a tidal energy project could work.
The commission, which is made up of nationally and internationally recognised engineers, financiers and scientists, has concluded that tidal range energy in the estuary means the scheme is “feasible”. It will need public funding to get going.
Dr Andrew Garrad, the commission chair who last year received the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering for his pioneering role in the development of the wind energy industry, said they were issuing a “call for action” to the government.
“A few previous studies haven’t been acted on in the past but I think the context now is quite different, with climate change and energy security at the top of everyone’s agendas,” he told The Times. The commission’s report is to be published on March 19.
“There is quite a good chance of this happening but we do need to make it happen. We cannot just keep going on having plans.
“Given the likely timelines for developing a project of this scale, we need to act now to ensure we can deliver the energy when it is needed and at the same time safeguard the environment.”
Plans to harness tidal power in the estuary, which has a tidal range of 12 to 14 metres, the second largest in the world, have been put forward previously but were not funded because of weak government support and concern about the effect on wetlands.
“Environmental stakeholders recognise there is a need for clean energy solutions but it needs to be done properly,” Garrad said. “They are happier with a lagoon and so is commercial shipping in the estuary, which is why we haven’t recommended a tidal barrage.”
With UK electricity demand set to more than double by 2050, the commission has called for urgent public investment.
Garrad estimates the government needs to spend £100 million on the lagoon project before private finance would fund construction. The final cost could be between £2 billion and £40 billion depending on the size of the lagoon.
“This is a power station but it is better thought of as an infrastructure project that will be around for at least 120 years,” he said.
“Supply-chain people have said that until there is a government policy saying ‘we support tidal’ then they won’t get involved. Once that happens I think there is plenty of private money to build it.
“The Welsh government has a policy in favour of tidal energy but the UK government doesn’t. I think the size and lifetime of this thing does justify some central government funding.”
The commission has recommended that the UK and Welsh governments back the development of a tidal lagoon as part of a “commercial demonstration project” to illustrate its potential and evaluate environmental effects.
They also recommend the government use the regulated asset base funding approach, which allows investors to receive a guaranteed return on investment for the lifetime of the asset. This has been used for projects such as the 16-mile Thames Tideway sewer.
There are only two tidal power stations in the world. La Rance, in Brittany, France, opened in 1966. Sihwa Lake tidal power station, on the west coast of South Korea, is larger and was completed in 2011.
“This would be the first tidal lagoon but it would be using well established technology,” Garrad said “If we did establish this project or a series of projects around the UK, this country could become a hub for tidal range activity.
“We have got such a big coastline and some curious freaks of geography. It could put the UK on the map from an industrial point of view. I have spent 40 years in the wind business. That was really on the fringes but now it’s mainstream.”
The commission was established last year by the Western Gateway, a partnership of the 28 councils in England and Wales that abut the Severn Estuary. It has received support from the Crown Estate, which owns much of the sea bed, and the Welsh and UK governments.
The partnership will now work with governments and industry to see how the recommendations can be put into action.
Rebecca Evans, the Welsh cabinet secretary for economy, energy and planning, said: “We want to make Wales a world centre for emerging tidal technologies, and the Severn Estuary is a source of immense potential energy.”
