Plans for Severn Estuary tidal energy generation continue
Twm Owen Local Democracy Reporter
Proposals to generate energy from the Severn Estuary will continue to be developed despite the body behind the latest plan losing its UK Government funding.
A document calling for a tidal lagoon was published in March by the Severn Estuary Commission in a report that called for the UK and Welsh governments to support the project which would be smaller than a barrage spanning the Severn which it rejected.
The Cardiff Capital Region, that represents the 10 local authorities in South East Wales, and the West of England Combined Authority will now work together on the proposal.
Pan regional partnerships
The commission had been hosted by the Western Gateway Partnership, that brought together 28 councils from Pembrokeshire to Swindon and Salisbury with businesses, to work together on economic development but is formally disbanding in June.
The partnership was first formed as a collaboration between Cardiff, Newport and Bristol councils in 2016 before expanding and receiving UK Government support from 2019.
But the Labour government announced in its October budget it would withdraw core funding for what were known as pan regional partnerships and wanted the new system of elected mayors in England to take up their work instead.
Monmouthshire County Council leader Mary Ann Brocklesby said the council wasn’t directly involved in the partnership but represented through the Cardiff Captial Regio that she chairs.
She told councillors work with English councils on economic development, including the proposals put forward by the Severn Estuary Commission, will continue.
She said:: “While the decision can be seen as disappointing it has not impacted the commitment of local authorities or other bodies on both sides of the border to continue to work together on projects that jointly benefit all our communities and businesses.
“Notably the recommendation of the Severn Estuary Commission, hosted by the Western Gateway Partnership, to harness the tidal power of the Severn will be taken forward jointly by the Cardiff Capital Region and the West of England Combined Authority.”
Growth
She said a memorandum of understanding for a formal partnership between the West of England Combined Authority and the Cardiff Captial Region is being drafted and they share interests of improving transport links and exploring opportunities of “green, sustainable growth.”
Labour’s Cllr Brocklesby said she has already written to Helen Godwin, who was elected as Labour’s West of England mayor earlier this month, and is due to meet with her and also has a meeting planned with the UK Government’s Welsh Secretary, Jo Stevens, as well as with the Welsh Government and meets with Monmouth Labour MP Catherine Fookes.
She said the council works with both governments so Monmouthshire can benefit from their “growth agendas” while she has also given evidence to a Westminster select committee.
Conservative councillor for Llanfoist and Govilon Tomos Davies, who had asked for a statement on the UK Government’s decision to withdraw the partnership’s funding, asked if Cllr Brocklesby would “use her position to hold her Labour UK Government colleagues to account and ensure its devolution and growth agenda benefits the whole of the UK and doesn’t abruptly stop at the Severn Bridge.”
He also wanted to know how Cllr Brocklesby would advocate for “further and deeper cross-border economic partnerships.”
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London Labour should review the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon decision to see if it was reached in an appropriate way or if lessons should be learnt.
This project has been evaluated in different forms on numerous occasions (1849, 1925, 1931-3, 1945-8, 1953, 1971, 1975, 1981-4, 1987, 1989, 2006, 2007, 2008-10, 2009, 2011-14, 2024-now). Each time it has been sunk by a combination of cost and environmental impact on various local habitats. Given that we have become less capable as a nation of major infrastructure projects and more sensitive about environmental impact, it is hard to see how any future evaluation can come out with a more positive view of the project than the previous ones. Surely this project has been studied to death and it is… Read more »
Lagoons haven’t had the attention you describe. Swansea was dismissed for spurious reasons despite a government report describing it as a “no regrets” project.
You are quite right. This has been going on for 25 to 30 years in one form or another. The UK government was actually right to turn down the Swansea Bay lagoon – the subsidy was way too excessive. The phrase flogging a dead horse comes to mind.
Which is better value a tidal lagoon that could have been finished by now trialling a new technology, or Hinkley Point, more than somewhat late, way over budget and with an eyewatering subsidy and on going costs for fuel processing, armed police The Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) and then storage in Sellafield for centuries.
I know which would be more sensible to try out..
Fair point; but it depends on whether you think the strike price (subsidy) for both is reasonable. Hinckley Point is debatable. The Lagoon wasn’t – which is why the government rejected it on untested technology. I suspect there would also have been cost overruns also. Nothing major ever gets delivered on budget.
The Swansea Lagoon strike price was about the same as the average wholesale price paid for energy last year.
The government has now given contracts for several tidal flow systems, one off Ynys Mon, subsidised as it is new technology but one where scale can bring down costs.
The same could be trialled with tidal lagoons to learn the actual pros and cons and bring down the costs for future projects.
It is not weather dependent and spread around the UK could give 24/7 generating, although individual schemes do not. Plus you would not be giving monies to third countries – China and France with regard to Hinckley Point.
Some people can spend a working lifetime and make a fortune out of just talking about a development that never happens. Architects can make millions from drawings which are just a waste of paper. Lawyers, advisers etc. can also milk the project but not a single brick is ever laid. All at a substantial cost to the taxpayer.
Let’s talk tidal The only worthwhile environmentally truly green energy No hazardous products to dispose of has anyone thought about the issues of PV disposal at the end of its 20 year life span Windfarms disposal of rusting structures Nuclear disposal creates problems for mother Earth for centuries to come Is this the legacy we want to leave our children and grandchildren So..LETS TALK TIDAL This is mother Earth giving us the answer to solve the energy crisis in plain sight if only the powers that be could stop and listen instead of continually looking for quick fixes and chasing… Read more »
For well less than the cost of a nuke at Sizewell we could put a barrage across the Severn to include both Steep Holm and Flat Holm. 200 plus plus years of low maintenance power other than 1 hour at high tide and 1 hour at slack water, both totally predictable.
Put a railway track on top of the barrage and cut nearly 2 hrs off the journey time from Paddington to Swansea.
Add a road and take pressure off the M4 at Newport.