tonybarebones
Well-Known Member
Synopsis of latest proposals published by the Bristol Evening Post:
Severn barrage shortlist revealed
Monday, January 26, 2009, 10:04
Five options for generating electricity in the Severn Estuary,
including a barrage from Westonsuper-Mare to Cardiff, have made a
Government shortlist.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was due to visit the At-Bristol centre in
Anchor Road this morning to make the announcement.
The shortlist has been produced following a 12-month Government
consultation on a list of 10 options for producing electricity from
the tidal range of the Severn.
The proposed shortlist has seen the original options whittled down to
five:
Cardiff-Weston Barrage: a barrage crossing 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 five per cent of the
UK's electricity.
Shoots Barrage: further upstream, spanning the estuary near English
Stones. It is one seventh the width of the Cardiff Weston scheme and
would produce 1.05 gigawatts, similar to a large fossil fuel plant.
Beachley Barrage: The smallest barrage on the proposed shortlist, just
above the Wye River. It could generate 625 megawatts.
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 1.36 gigawatts.
Fleming Lagoon: an impoundment on the Welsh shore of the estuary
between Newport and the Severn road crossings. It too could generate
1.36 gigawatts.
All 10 projects and the proposed shortlist will now be subject to a
three month public consultation which begins today.
Energy 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."
Mr Miliband has also announced £500,000 of new funding - partly coming
from the South West Regional Development Agency - 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.
It means the other five options which did not make the shortlist may
also be considered.
The tides in the Severn estuary are the second highest in the world.
The consultation period will last until Thursday 23 April, after
which, the Government will publish the responses and, after
consideration, announce its final shortlist.
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.
Severn barrage shortlist revealed
Monday, January 26, 2009, 10:04
Five options for generating electricity in the Severn Estuary,
including a barrage from Westonsuper-Mare to Cardiff, have made a
Government shortlist.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was due to visit the At-Bristol centre in
Anchor Road this morning to make the announcement.
The shortlist has been produced following a 12-month Government
consultation on a list of 10 options for producing electricity from
the tidal range of the Severn.
The proposed shortlist has seen the original options whittled down to
five:
Cardiff-Weston Barrage: a barrage crossing 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 five per cent of the
UK's electricity.
Shoots Barrage: further upstream, spanning the estuary near English
Stones. It is one seventh the width of the Cardiff Weston scheme and
would produce 1.05 gigawatts, similar to a large fossil fuel plant.
Beachley Barrage: The smallest barrage on the proposed shortlist, just
above the Wye River. It could generate 625 megawatts.
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 1.36 gigawatts.
Fleming Lagoon: an impoundment on the Welsh shore of the estuary
between Newport and the Severn road crossings. It too could generate
1.36 gigawatts.
All 10 projects and the proposed shortlist will now be subject to a
three month public consultation which begins today.
Energy 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."
Mr Miliband has also announced £500,000 of new funding - partly coming
from the South West Regional Development Agency - 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.
It means the other five options which did not make the shortlist may
also be considered.
The tides in the Severn estuary are the second highest in the world.
The consultation period will last until Thursday 23 April, after
which, the Government will publish the responses and, after
consideration, announce its final shortlist.
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.
