Department of Energy and Climate Change SEVERN TIDAL POWER Feasibility Study Conclusions and Summary Report OCTOBER 2010 Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study: Conclusions and Summary Report Contents Executive summary .................................................................................................... 4 How to respond ....................................................................................................... 9 1. Background .......................................................................................................... 10 The UK’s wave and tidal opportunity ..................................................................... 10 Tidal Stream ...................................................................................................... 12 Wave ................................................................................................................. 12 Tidal range ......................................................................................................... 13 The Severn ........................................................................................................... 14 Schemes studied .................................................................................................. 16 Progress since public consultation ........................................................................ 18 2. The scale of the challenge ................................................................................... 21 2020 – Renewable Energy Strategy ..................................................................... 21 2050 ...................................................................................................................... 23 Is there a role for the Severn? ............................................................................... 24 3. Regional and environmental impacts ................................................................... 28 Social and economic impacts ................................................................................ 32 Regional jobs and the economy ......................................................................... 32 Infrastructure and services................................................................................. 35 Environmental impacts .......................................................................................... 37 Carbon ............................................................................................................... 37 Flood risk and land drainage .............................................................................. 37 Migratory and estuarine fish ............................................................................... 38 Waterbirds ......................................................................................................... 39 Habitat ............................................................................................................... 40 Other biodiversity and geodiversity .................................................................... 41 4. Legislative framework ........................................................................................... 42 Habitats and Birds Directive .................................................................................. 42 Habitats Regulations Assessment ..................................................................... 42 Compensatory measures ................................................................................... 43 Water Framework Directive ................................................................................... 45 European Eel Regulations .................................................................................... 46 Consenting ............................................................................................................ 46 5. Construction and financing ................................................................................... 48 Options Definition Report ...................................................................................... 48 Accuracy of cost estimates ................................................................................... 49 Supply chain ......................................................................................................... 51 Materials ............................................................................................................ 51 Turbines ............................................................................................................. 52 Vessels .............................................................................................................. 52 Skills .................................................................................................................. 52 Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 52 Page 1 of 75 Grid study .............................................................................................................. 53 Financing .............................................................................................................. 54 Appetite for investment ...................................................................................... 54 Commercial structure conclusions ..................................................................... 54 Revenue support ............................................................................................... 56 6. Scheme assessment ............................................................................................ 58 Shoots barrage ..................................................................................................... 61 Cardiff-Weston barrage ......................................................................................... 61 Bridgwater Bay lagoon .......................................................................................... 62 Welsh Grounds lagoon .......................................................................................... 63 Combinations ........................................................................................................ 63 7.Severn Embryonic Technologies Scheme ............................................................. 65 Severn Tidal Fence ............................................................................................... 66 Spectral Marine Energy Converter ........................................................................ 67 Tidal Bar ................................................................................................................ 68 Next steps ............................................................................................................. 68 8. Next steps for Severn tidal power ......................................................................... 70 Review points ........................................................................................................ 71 Links with wave and tidal policy ............................................................................ 72 Further work .......................................................................................................... 72 Environment results and Environmental Impact Assessment ............................ 72 Page 2 of 75 Page 3 of 75 Executive summary The UK must reduce its carbon dioxide emissions from energy and at the same time enjoy a secure and affordable supply of energy. We are legally committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and to meeting 15% of our energy demands from renewable sources by 2020. Over the next decade, to achieve our renewable energy goals, the UK must increase the amount of electricity generated from renewables almost 5-fold on 2009 levels. DECC’s analysis shows that electricity will play a key role in helping to decarbonise our energy sectors and that overall electricity demand will increase to 2050. Following a positive recommendation from the Sustainable Development Commission, a 2- year cross-Government feasibility study was launched to inform a decision whether or not to promote a scheme to generate electricity from the tides of the Severn estuary. The Severn’s enormous tidal range could provide up to 5% of our current electricity generation from an indigenous renewable source, and bring new employment opportunity both locally and nationally. But any scheme in the Severn estuary would need to be cost effective compared to other low-carbon energy alternatives. Furthermore, the Severn and some of its tributaries are designated as internationally important nature conservation sites. The study has considered whether Government could support a tidal power project in the Severn estuary and, if so, on what terms. There are a number of potential Severn power schemes. 10 have been assessed by the feasibility study following a Call for Proposals during 2008. Half of these were judged to be unviable after public consultation in 2009 and were not included in the more detailed – but still high level – consideration that followed. Over the last year the study has looked at the remaining 5 potentially feasible scheme options in outline and assessed their costs, benefits and risks. The evidence base which is published with this report, the findings of the study, is extensive, particularly the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Severn tidal power. DECC is grateful to all those who have contributed to the