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Severn Tidal Power, Feasibility Study

Aim

The feasibility study aims 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?

Focus – what we’re looking at

The study is focussing on tidal range technologies (including barrages, lagoons and other technologies) as this is where the main resource of the estuary lies. Following input from stakeholders, a long list of ten potential proposals was compiled for consideration. These include barrages, lagoons, a tidal fence and a tidal reef.

Key work areas

The study has six key work areas:

  1. Environmental – impacts on biodiversity and wildlife; flood management; geomorphology; water quality; landscape; compensatory habitat
  2. Engineering and Technical – options appraisal; costs; design and construction; grid linkage
  3. Economic – financing; ownership; energy market impacts
  4. Regional – impacts on business; regional social and economic impact
  5. Planning and consents – regulatory compliance
  6. Stakeholder engagement and communication

The study also includes a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), to ensure a detailed understanding of the environmental resource of the Estuary, recognising the nature conservation significance of the Estuary and of the rivers which flow into it.

Process and Timescales

The study is a two phase process with a decision and public consultation at the end of each. These public consultations will, together with our ongoing stakeholder groups and meetings, provide an opportunity to input on the assessments and recommendations to date.

Phase 1 (Jan 08 – late 08):

  • Focus on high level issues and short-listing potential tidal power project options
  • Reach a first view on whether there are any fundamental issues that mean the Government is not interested in promoting a Severn scheme. For example, at this early stage, are there any issues - eg costs, environmental consequences, effect on the local economy, impact on the energy market, financial or technical feasibility - which are simply unacceptable and would not benefit from further study.
  • Public consultation (January 09 - April 09) on: the scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment that is being carried out within the feasibility study; which of the 10 possible Severn tidal power schemes under consideration will be short-listed for detailed impact assessment during 2009; how the feasibility study is being conducted, the issues it is considering and how these are being approached

Phase 2 (Late 08 – 2010):

  • Consideration of costs, impacts and benefits of short-listed options in more detail. Full cost-benefit analysis.
  • Public consultation (2010) on the evidence gathered and analysis done, in order to inform the decision whether to proceed, terms of proceeding, and a single preferred option. This will include consultation on the environmental report, which will contain all the information specified by the SEA Directive.

Who’s involved and how do I contact them?

The study is being carried out by a cross-Government team led by the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and including representatives of the Welsh Assembly Government and the South West Regional Development Agency. You can contact the lead person for each of the six key work areas at severntidalpowerunit@berr.gsi.gov.uk

The team is also taking external advice as necessary and engaging stakeholders and the wider public. The following teams of consultants have been appointed to work with us:

  • Parsons Brinckerhoff led consortium have been appointed to manage the Strategic Environmental Assessment and initial technical options assessment – you can contact the PB team directly at severnsea@pbworld.com for all queries related to the Strategic Environmental Assessment
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed to provide advice on how a Severn tidal power scheme could be financed and ownership options – contact via the economic work area lead person at severntidalpowerunit@berr.gsi.gov.uk
  • DTZ in collaboration with MDS Transmodal and Arthur D Little appointed to undertake an initial assessment of the potential regional economic impact of a Severn tidal power scheme – contact via the regional work area lead at severntidalpowerunit@berr.gsi.gov.uk

We have also appointed a Technical and Engineering Expert Panel to review the technical outputs of the feasibility study and provide us with independent engineering advice.

Further information on the governance of the feasibility study is available from our Governance page.

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