Severn Estuary feasibility study to include tidal lagoons

Severn Estuary feasibility study to include tidal lagoons

22 January 2008

The inclusion of tidal lagoons in a feasibility study into tidal power in the Severn Estuary, announced today by the Welsh Assembly Government, has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

In October last year the environment group had condemned the UK Government's Sustainable Development Commission recommendation that the study look only at a possible Severn barrage, and ignore the great potential of tidal lagoons and other technologies.

Neil Crumpton, Energy Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Cymru and author of the group's damning Severn Barrage Report, said:

"We welcome the study as it'll now include consideration of offshore lagoon schemes. A barrage would be enormously environmentally damaging and hugely expensive. Yet tidal lagoons may be able to produce the same amount of energy at half the cost, without seriously damaging an internationally important wildlife site.

"The estuary's legal protection means the government will have to offer a very convincing case that the £15 billion a barrage would cost could not be better spent in alternative energy investments."