DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
AND CLIMATE CHANGE News Release (Reference: 2009/007) issued by
COI News Distribution Service. 26 January 2009
New funding
announced for embryonic technologies
A proposed shortlist of schemes to generate clean, green
electricity from the power of the tides in the Severn estuary has
been unveiled by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The
shortlist includes a mixture of barrages and innovative lagoon schemes.
The Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has also
announced £500,000 of new funding to further develop embryonic
technologies like tidal reefs and fences. The progress of these
technologies will be considered before decisions are taken whether
to go ahead with a Severn tidal power scheme.
The tides in the Severn estuary are the second highest in the
world. The largest proposal being taken forward has the potential
to generate nearly 5% of the UK's electricity from a
domestic, low carbon and sustainable source.
Over the past year, the Government-led feasibility study has been
investigating a list of ten options, gathering information on the
costs, benefits and environmental challenges of using the estuary
to generate power.
The proposed shortlist is as follows:
Cardiff Weston Barrage: A barrage crossing the Severn estuary
from Brean Down, near Weston super Mare to Lavernock Point, near
Cardiff. Its estimated capacity is over 8.6 Gigawatts - twice that
of the UK's largest fossil fuel power plant - and it could
generate nearly 5% of UK electricity.
Shoots Barrage: Further upstream of the Cardiff Weston scheme.
Capacity of 1.05GW, similar to a large fossil fuel plant.
Beachley Barrage: The smallest barrage on the proposed shortlist,
just above the Wye River. It could generate 625MW.
Bridgwater Bay Lagoon: Lagoons are radical new proposals which
impound a section of the estuary without damming it. This scheme
is sited on the English shore between east of Hinkley Point and
Weston super Mare. It could generate 1.36GW.
Fleming Lagoon: An impoundment on the Welsh shore of the estuary
between Newport and the Severn road crossings. It too could
generate 1.36GW.
All ten projects and the proposed shortlist will now be subject
to a three month public consultation which begins today.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:
"Fighting climate change is the biggest long term challenge
we face and we must look to use the UK's own natural
resources to generate clean, green electricity.
"The Severn estuary has massive potential to help achieve
our climate change and renewable energy targets. We want to see
how that potential compares against the other options for meeting
our goals.
"The largest proposal to harness the power of the tides on
the shortlist could save as much carbon dioxide as all the
residential emissions from Wales.
"The five schemes shortlisted today are what we believe can
be feasible, but this doesn't mean we have lost sight of
others. Half a million pounds of new funding will go some way to
developing technologies still in their infancy, like tidal reef
and fences. We will consider the progress of this work before any
final decisions are taken.
"We have tough choices to make. Failing to act on climate
change could see catastrophic effects on the environment and its
wildlife, but the estuary itself is a protected environment, home
to vulnerable species including birds and fish. We need to think
about how to balance the value of this unique natural environment
against the long-term threat of global climate change. It is vital
we seek public views and collect all information we need to make
sure our climate change actions are ambitious yet fair."
Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Environment,
Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson said:
"Harnessing the power of the Severn Estuary tides could make
a significant contribution towards achieving the UK targets for
renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, but we must ensure
that environmental issues are taken fully into account.
"The shortlisted schemes are based on relatively well
understood hydroelectric technologies, with a mix of existing and
new engineering structures. It is proposed that the economic,
social, and environmental impacts of these be studied further in
the second phase of the government study.
Ms Davidson said: "In addition to the shortlist other, less
developed, schemes for capturing tidal energy could have potential
in the longer term.
"I am pleased the Welsh Assembly Government, together with
Defra and the South West Regional Development Agency are
contributing £500,000 to support the development of innovative
options for harnessing tidal power in the Severn Estuary.
"We are encouraging Welsh companies involved with marine
technology to be among those applying for access to this fund to
help demonstrate the potential of innovative technologies, as the
South West RDA are encouraging those in South West England. We
consider it essential that key stakeholders and the public at
large are aware of the issues involved in capturing Severn Tidal
Power and provide their input into the ongoing studies."
We are also publishing, for consultation, the scope of the
Strategic Environmental Assessment. This is a study which will
ensure a detailed understanding of the environmental resource of
the estuary, recognising the nature conservation significance and
the rivers which flow in to it. The consultation begins today.
Notes to Editors:
1. Terms of reference for the feasibility study were announced in
January 2008. It is being carried out by a cross-Government team
led by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and including
representatives of the Welsh Assembly Government and the South
West RDA.
2. The consultation period will last until 23 April. After which,
the Government will publish the responses and, after
consideration, announce its final shortlist. Shortlisted schemes
will be taken forward for further analysis. A final decision on
whether Government could support Severn tidal power generation and
if so on what terms, will be taken at the end of the feasibility
study in 2010, following a second public consultation.
3. The £500,000 new funding announced today will come from Defra,
Welsh Assembly Government and the South West RDA. It is in
addition to substantial funding already available through DECC and
others to develop wave and tidal power technology.
4. A map outlining the locations of the five schemes, and
visualisations of how they could look, can be viewed on the DECC
consultation website, http://www.decc.gov.uk/severntidalpowerconsultation