Severn tidal power options timetable unveiled

The Government has signalled that it will start a public consultation on possible tidal power plans for the Severn Estuary in January. That exercise will begin then provided the administration believes there are no show stoppers which effectively rule out the feasibility of harnessing the energy potential of the estuary’s huge tidal range.

Ministers are due to meet in December to consider the results of an initial study, currently under way, which is looking at up to ten different proposals, some employing novel technology.

As well as a number of barrage configurations the cross-Government team involved in the present assessment is looking at tidal lagoons, a proposal for a 'reef' and a 'tidal fence'.

At this stage there does not appear to be clear justification for either a new road or rail crossing as part of any barrage project.

Next year's consultation will give the public and interested parties an opportunity to consider which of the ten candidate proposals should be shortlisted for detailed impact assessment during 2009.

The Government, and the Welsh Assembly Government, will look at the costs benefits and impact of shortlisted options. This will include the environmental, social, regional and economic impacts.

Because of the environmental importance of the estuary, Natural England has been asked to consider where it is possible to find and/or designate sufficient suitable habitat to compensate for the loss or damage to the intertidal mudflats of the Severn. This could involve finding between 11,000 and 15,000 hectares of replacement land.

At this stage it is not certain whether the European Commission would accept such a massive scale 'habitat swap' as mitigation.

Ministers are promising a second round of consultation and further assessment of any shortlisted projects which would take place later in 2009/10 before a final decision is taken whether to proceed – and on what terms.

That stage won’t be reached until probably the first half of 2010 at the earliest, it has emerged.

Roger Milne

25 September 2008