Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study - Introductory Page
The tidal energy resource of the Severn Estuary is on a nationally significant scale. It has the potential to contribute to UK objectives to deliver a secure supply of low carbon electricity and to our 2020 energy targets. Previous studies, including the recent report from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) ‘Turning the Tide: Tidal Power in the UK’ indicate that the huge 14metre tidal range of the Estuary – the second highest in the world – has the potential to generate some 5% of the UK’s electricity from a renewable indigenous resource, within sustainable development principles. However, as the SDC advised, more work is needed to assess the pros and cons before a decision could be taken to go ahead with a scheme.
Following the SDC report, the Government is now carrying out a study looking at the feasibility of a tidal power scheme in the Estuary. The study, building on past studies, is gathering and assessing up-to-date high level evidence to enable Government to decide, in the context of the Government’s energy and climate change goals and the alternative options for achieving these, and after public consultation, could Government support a tidal power scheme in the Severn Estuary and if so on what terms?
Latest Feasibility Study Updates
We are now consulting on:
- a recommended shortlist of schemes for more detailed analysis this year;
- the scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment that is being carried out within the feasibility study;
- the issues thee feasibility study is considering and how these are being approached.
The full consultation can be viewed at the Severn Tidal Power Consultation website.
The consultation site also contains background information about the feasibility study and the work we've done so far.
(29KB)