Final recommendations from the Severn Estuary Commission have been published on the potential for renewable energy from the Severn Estuary.
With one of the largest tidal ranges in the world at 14m, the Severn Estuary is estimated to have the potential to deliver up to 7% of the UK’s total electricity demand. For this potential to contribute to the UK’s goal of achieving net zero by 2050, the Commission stated that development must begin as soon as possible.
Over the past year, the Severn Estuary Commission has engaged with over 500 stakeholders to explore the feasibility of harnessing the Severn Estuary’s tidal range.
The Commission has determined that tidal range energy in the Severn Estuary is feasible and could provide a reliable source of renewable power. However, they concluded that, due to stakeholder views, commercial issues, and legislative challenges, a large barrage should not be pursued at this stage. Instead, they recommend focusing on developing a commercially viable lagoon as a Commercial Demonstration Project. This lagoon would enhance understanding of tidal range energy while driving economic growth. Environmental impact monitoring would determine the progression of future developments.
The key recommendations are as follows:
- Governments to recognise the role of tidal range energy in the UK’s future electricity supply and support its development as an industry
- Develop a Commercial Demonstration Project to demonstrate potential and evaluate environmental effects
- Create a regional plan to enable the better management of the Severn Estuary
- Develop funding and financing framework to unlock private investment
- Take a public sector led initial development approach – a Project Delivery Vehicle
- Invest in research and monitoring to address current research gaps in the environmental data and evidence
- Take a strategic approach to mitigation and compensation delivery
Call to Action detailed by the Commission:
“The Commission has made its recommendations to the Western Gateway Partnership. For a new tidal range energy strategy to be enacted effectively, the recommendations require co-ordinated decisions by UK and Welsh Governments. They should be complemented through further actions by other key stakeholders who have a responsibility for delivering the UK’s clean energy strategy by 2050 and for co-ordinating environmental planning.
The Western Gateway Partnership is well positioned to take a leadership role in this effort and to coordinate engagement across key stakeholders. Local and regional authorities, working in collaboration with national decision-makers, should provide the necessary foundation to follow this strategic and coordinated path.
Jay Sheppard, Project Manager at Marine Energy Wales said:
“The Severn Estuary holds immense potential to contribute to the UK’s clean energy future. By prioritising a commercially viable tidal lagoon, we can take a critical first step in unlocking tidal range energy – offering reliable, long-term renewable power while driving economic and environmental progress. Now is the time for coordinated action to turn this vision into reality.”
To find out more and to view the recommendations, click here.