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Plans for a £1.3bn tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay are to be backed in a government-commissioned review.
Prof. Roger Falconer FREng, Professor of Water Management at Cardiff University, said:
“At Cardiff University we have been studying the design, operation and impact of a wide range of tidal energy structures for over 10 years. Following the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Studies (2010) there has been little commitment to tidal range energy in the UK, despite the La Rance barrage scheme in France now providing one of the cheapest sources of energy anywhere in the developed world. Tidal energy is predictable and could undoubtedly provide a key contribution to meeting our renewables obligation.
“I welcome the Hendry Review which sets out a clear pathway for Government consideration for the development of a tidal energy industry, led by Swansea Bay Lagoon as a “pathfinder” project. Whilst the technology in constructing lagoon walls and turbines is not new, the potential environmental impacts surrounding such structures is new and can only be predicted through model predictions. I therefore support the principle of progressing with Swansea Bay Lagoon as a pathfinder project, together with monitoring and assessing the impacts and before progressing to larger tidal range structures. The proposed development of Swansea Bay Lagoon as a pathfinder project offers the UK considerable opportunities for the future in terms of tidal renewable energy developments.”
Dr Robert Gross, Director of Policy of Energy Futures Lab, Imperial College London, said:
“Tidal lagoons are expensive to build but could provide electricity almost indefinitely. If they can be financed cheaply over the long term their electricity works out quite cheap too. But UK governments have not been very good at thinking long term. Private investors welcome secure and long term investments in energy infrastructure but only if, and it’s a big if, government changes its approach and really thinks long term.”
Dr Athanasios Angeloudis, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, said:
“We welcome the outcome of the Hendry review as it promotes the investment that is needed for the development of new marine renewable schemes and in particular tidal energy technologies.
“The UK is blessed with some of the largest tidal energy resources in the world and this outcome should be seen as a landmark step towards making the first significant contribution to the national electricity mix from this sustainable energy source.
“The Hendry review provides encouraging results, but it is crucial that the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project is a success, given that it is a pathfinder for subsequent larger tidal energy options both nationally and internationally.
“This is a major opportunity for the engineering industry and UK universities that have pioneered marine energy research worldwide, to cooperate and ensure that ongoing tidal energy projects reflect and deliver upon their potential.”
Declared interests
Dr Angeloudis: “Received EPSRC impact acceleration funding to work with Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd, though he did not receive any direct funding from them. Dr Angeloudis had some input into evidence submitted for the Hendry Review.”
Dr Gross: “I have no conflicts of interests or affiliations in relation to this project or report.”
Prof. Falconer: “Appointed as an “Individual Expert” to a consortium, led by ITPE Ltd, who were appointed as technical advisors to the Hendry Review Team. He was also a member of the Expert Panel for the Department of Energy and Climate Change Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Studies (2010).”