October 2010 - the government has taken a negative position on the Severn Tidal Power concept, meaning that no such scheme will be recommended for public funding. The decision was primarily made for cost reasons. This means that, once again, the Severn Tidal Power concept will be de-emphasised within the UK's energy agenda for the short term. Another review may occur after 2015.
NOTE - Severn Wye Energy Agency was not formally involved in the 2009-10 Severn Tidal Power feasibility study, nor do we take a position on the merits (or otherwise) of the proposals. However, our work did enable us to cast an expert eye over the facts and figures as we understood them. The exploration of Severn Tidal Power (or 'The Severn Barrage') has quite rightly generated a huge amount of interest across South West England and Wales, and despite now being put on hold for the medium term, its eventual long-term outcome will have a critical bearing on the UK's wider renewable energy strategy.
The idea of tidal power in the Severn has been around since the 19th Century. The latest proposals included a revival of some longstanding ideas (with the large Cardiff-Weston barrage remaining the reference option), as well as the inclusion of some more recent alternatives. Of the 10 original proposals, 5 were shortlisted for more detailed investigation. If built, the largest of the schemes would one day become the biggest renewable energy projects (as well as the biggest civil engineering projects) in Europe, by some margin.
The Government's official Severn Tidal Power Consultation has completed its final phase, and an announcement was made in October 2010. This confirmed the decision that the Government would not formally support a Severn Tidal Power scheme, and that none of proposed options will be taken forward at this stage.
These include SeBAS (Severn Barrage Association of Supporters), who claim a 'carbon' payback within 6 months; and ICE (Civil Maritime Engineering group), who claim water quality and biodiversity will be greatly improved.
These include SOS (Save Our Severn), who focus on major siltation problems; CLA (Country Land & Business Association), who focus on productive land loss; RSPB and WWF, who both believe shortlist is flawed and biased against innovative schemes; WWT (Slimbridge), who also regard the big barrage as 'destructive'; and the Environment Agency chair, who agrees that the ecological impacts of Cardiff-Weston are too great, but supports the smaller/alternative options.