![]() ![]() ![]() Our proposed barrage would generate up to 10% of the electrical power requirement of England and Wales. “However, the UK is fortunate in having one of the largest tidal ranges in the world in the Severn Estuary. Neither can provide a solid, reliable supply that meets the needs of industry or households. However, the present trajectory for decommissioning coal-fired power stations along with ageing nuclear power stations means that we are becoming vulnerable with increasing dependence on solar panels and wind turbines. He added: “Since COP26 there is widespread agreement that all the energy we consume in the UK must be from non-fossil fuel sources by 2050. Penarth-based Mr Evans, who was involved in a number of previous proposed barrage schemes, believes that the timing is now right for a project to be finally realised. ![]() ![]() This it said would increase the green energy capacity by 20% on the previous project. While it has a number of potential options, the Great Western Power Barrage, is currently focused on a much longer structure than Hafren Power at around 23 kilometres from Lavernock Point just south of Cardiff to Hinkley Point in Somerset. However, securing endorsement from the Western Gateway, which is backed at a local authority, city region, government and local enterprise partnership level, from Swansea to Swindon, as well as having private and higher education sector support, would give the project significant momentum. While it had some political support there was strong opposition in the west of England, including the Port of Bristol with concerns over the impact on its shipping flows.Įven if the port operator could be assuaged, any new project could face opposition from wildlife conservation bodies. The last proposed barrage scheme, from a company called Hafren Power, was for a 18 kilometre long structure with energy generating turbines along its length from Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan to the Brean Peninsula on the English side of the estuary in Somerset. Great Western Power Barrage, which is yet to incorporate, currently consists of former Arup director and construction industry veteran David Evans, corporate financier David Grundy and engineer and managing director of Eco Innovate, Bob Long. The members of the commission will be confirmed later this year. While looking at all types of projects, including lagoons, it will also assess a tidal barrage. Last week the cross-border Western Gateway partnership - which is driving closer economic ties between South Wales and the West of England - confirmed it is establishing an independent commission to assess the potential of exploiting tidal energy in the Severn Estuary, which has one the highest tidal ranges in the world. The project has an indicative cost of between £25bn to £30bn. They are already engaging potential global investors, as well as politicians and decision-makers on both sides of the Severn Estuary. It supporters are focused on a first stage £10m fundraising to de-risk and to develop more in-depth plans ahead of a second round of up to £250m to get to a planning consideration point. And its backers believe couldn’t be better timed as the UK pivots to renewable energy sources needed to achieve the 2050 net zero emission targets of both the UK and Welsh governments. The proposal, called the Great Western Power Barrage, would see a sea wall stretch from the south Wales coast to Somerset. New plans for a Severn Barrage tidal project, generating up to 10% of the UK’s electricity needs and providing a bulwark against climate change induced rising sea levels, can be revealed. ![]()
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