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Severn Tidal Plant Too Costly to Be Built, Local Lawmaker Says
2010-09-05 23:00:01.2 GMT
By Louise Downing and Thomas Penny
Sept. 6 (Bloomberg) -- A tidal power project across the
Severn Estuary that could supply up to 5 percent of the U.K.'s
electricity probably won't be built because the government
doesn't have the cash to fund it, said Steve Webb, a minister
and lawmaker representing a district next to the river.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change is "under
severe budgetary pressure and doesn't have the resources to
subsidize huge schemes," said Webb, who co-authored a report on
the options for electricity generation in the Severn before he
joined the coalition government as pensions minister in May.
Five proposals are being considered to harness tidal energy
in the river, each costing at least 2 billion pounds ($3
billion). The most expensive would cost about 22 billion pounds.
The government says it will decide whether to go ahead with the
project after Parliament returns from its summer recess today.
Webb's concerns echo those of Stephanie Merry, a member of
the project's steering committee, who said Sept. 1 that the
government may shelve the project for the "foreseeable future"
because it cannot raise money enough from the private companies.
"It's frustrating that yet again Severn tidal power is
being looked at, but there's no sign of any power being
generated," Webb said in a telephone interview. "It does seem
criminal really that the tidal power of the Severn can't be
harnessed in some way."
Power Potential
A power project across the estuary, which has the second-
highest tidal range in the world, could generate as much as 8.6
gigawatts of electricity.
The biggest project, from Cardiff to Weston-Super-Mare, is
being supported by the Severn Tidal Power Group, a consortium of
builders Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd., Balfour Beatty Plc and Taylor
Woodrow Construction along with turbine maker Alstom SA.
The Liberal Democrat's report, which was published in April
2009, recommended a barrage near the second Severn crossing and
said it would be more cost-effective and better for the
environment than the Cardiff to Weston. The report's
recommendations, which included the building of an experimental
tidal lagoon, were backed by the party in September 2009.
Tidal barrages such as those proposed for the Severn have
long been the subject of controversy due in part to the
detrimental effects they are believed to have on wildlife.
"From the studies released so far, we see that there are
likely significant and irreversible environmental impacts
arising from the shortlisted schemes," the World Wildlife Fund
said in an e-mail.
'Onshore Lagoons'
Gordon James, director of Friends of the Earth, said in an
e-mail, "Our favored option has always been offshore tidal
lagoons, and we are disappointed that these were not included in
the final five shortlisted options."
Only two tidal lagoons linked to the shore were among the
five shortlisted proposals. Other suggested technologies reefs,
smaller barrages, land-connected lagoons and fences that absorb
energy from waves.
Environmental and conservation groups have said they will
be disappointed if the government axes a Severn tidal project
solely on costs.
"The barrage option would be in the balance on cost
grounds, but it is disappointing if the decision is to be based
solely on cost rather than environmental considerations,"
Martin Spray, chief executive of the Wildfowl and Wetlands
Trust, a local conservation group, said in an e-mail.
Aside from environmental concerns, most agree that
harnessing the clean, renewable power from the estuary would be
beneficial. The Carbon Trust estimates tidal power could
generate up to a fifth of the U.K.'s electricity.
The World Wildlife Fund said it "strongly supports" the
government's commitment to clean energy.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said in an e-
mail it has consistently called for investment in "more
innovative and less destructive schemes. The U.K. could and
should be a world leader in sustainable tidal power if the
investment and the will could be found."
For Related News and Information:
Most-read alternative energy stories: MNI ALTNRG <GO>
New Energy Finance top news: TNEF <GO>
Renewable energy, environment page: GREEN <GO>
--Editors: Reed Landberg, Angus McCrone
To contact the reporter responsible for this story:
Louise Downing in London at +44-20-3216-4633 or
Ldowning4@bloomberg.net
Thomas Penny in London at +44-20-7233-3462 or
tpenny@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Reed Landberg in London at +44-20-7330-7862 or
landberg@bloomberg.net
