Don't reject alternative Severn technologies, minister warned

22 June 2009

The Government's Severn tidal energy study urgently needs to consider environmentally benign and less financially risky ways of harnessing power from the Severn Estuary, say environmental campaigners [1].

Green groups will today urge the new energy minister, Lord Hunt, to put offshore lagoons and tidal reefs back on the agenda at a key meeting at the Department of Energy and Climate Change in London [2].

Both of these technologies had not been included on the shortlist of schemes for more detailed consideration drawn up by government consultants Parsons Brinkerhoff on the grounds that they would be too expensive [3].

However, independent experts have since identified a number of shortcomings in the original study, raising serious questions about the conclusions it drew.

Two marine construction specialists put forward detailed estimates for constructing offshore lagoons that were three to four times lower than the Parsons Brinkerhoff estimated costs.

Meanwhile, consultants WS Atkins, who reviewed the Parsons Brinkerhoff study for the RSPB, suggest that the report seriously underestimated the power output of reefs and offshore lagoons.

The Welsh Assembly Government and DEFRA have announced £500,000 to fund a separate assessment looking at innovative technologies to generate power from the Severn Estuary. However, it is likely that offshore lagoons will be excluded from this fund and there is no guarantee that any other schemes would be put back into the formal study.

Friends of the Earth energy specialist Neil Crumpton said: "The initial study was surprisingly shoddy and difficult to scrutinise and evidence submitted in response by professional energy consultants and marine construction specialists revealed gaping holes in the original assessment.

"The Severn Estuary's unique ecology, economy and archaeology should not be put at risk by a flawed report. The new minister now needs to ensure that offshore lagoons and tidal reefs are not excluded from the study, and the study itself should be reconfigured so that a proper strategic assessment can be carried out."

NOTES

1) Severn Tidal Energy Study - Parsons Brinkerhoff is the lead consultancy firm funded by Government to conduct the two -year £9 million study, other consultants include Black& Veatch. The year-long Phase 1 of the 'cross-government' study was completed last year - the draft shortlist for Phase 2 and a three month public consultation period was announced by Ed Miliband in Bristol on 26th January 2009

2) Severn tidal energy study ministerial Roundtable at DECC offices Monday 22nd June chaired by Jonathan Porritt of the Sustainable Development Commission

3) see Phase 2 draft shortlisted schemes below (note that the lagoons listed are land-connected lagoons which impound the inter-tidal mud and sand flats and are significantly different to offshore lagoons which are built about one mile offshore beyond the inter-tidal areas)

The recommended short list of schemes for consultation is:

• Shoots Barrage - located near the Severn road crossings, estimated to cost £3.2bn to construct and generate 2.7TWh/year or just under 1% of UK electricity (roughly equivalent to a large fossil fuel power station)
• Beachley Barrage - slightly smaller and further upstream than the Shoots Barrage (and upstream of the Wye), estimated to cost £2.3bn and generate 1.6TWh/year
• Fleming Lagoon - an impoundment on the Welsh shore of the Estuary between Newport and the Severn road crossings, estimated to cost £4bn and generate 2.3TWh/year
• Bridgwater Bay Lagoon - an impoundment on the English shore of the Estuary between Hinkley Point and Weston Super Mare, estimated to cost £3.8bn and generate 2.6TWh/year
• Cardiff-Weston Barrage - located between Brean Down and Lavernock Point, estimated to cost £20.9bn and generate 16.8Twh/year or some 5% of UK electricity.

To view the consultation document and for further information about the feasibility study, the different Severn tidal power options and the information gathered so far, visit www.decc.gov.uk/severntidalpowerconsultation