Lagoon decision ‘weeks away’
THE vision for a £1.3bn tidal lagoon will become a reality for Swansea Bay when it is rubber-stamped in June, it has emerged.
Sources say that the scheme, which could create about 2,000 new jobs in the region and beyond, will be given UK Government backing within weeks.
A UK Governmentcommissioned review, spearheaded by former UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry, said the scheme will be key to the UK’s energy supply and would make a “strong contribution”. He also said it was cost effective and would bring “significant economic opportunity” to the region.
A source close to the UK Government said they were confident the decision was only a matter of weeks away, adding: “The decision to go ahead with the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon will be announced in June.”
The news comes after more than 40 AMs from across the party divide came together to make a united push for the UK Government to approve the renewable energy project which would win the attention of the world.
The drive to ensure the project becomes reality is led by committee chairmen Ogmore AM Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour), Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru), Russell George (Conservative) and Mark Reckless (Conservative).
The four AMs – who respectively represent the committees for constitutional and legislative affairs; finance; economy, infrastructure and skills; and climate change, environment and rural affairs – argue the potential benefits “run far deeper than one might ordinarily expect of a single energy project” and hope to secure a meeting with the Energy Secretary.
A Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) spokesman said it was considering the outcome of the Hendry Review before a final decision would be made.
The lagoon would be the first of its kind in the world and as well as generating electricity to power 155,000 homes for the next 120 years, its planned six-mile long seawall and visitor centre is expected to act as a major tourist attraction.
Electricity will be generated through the ebb and flow of the tides and it will be made out of a breakwater wall built out from the shore in a six-mile long loop and housing 16 hydro turbines.
Gates will allow the incoming tide to fill the lagoon, rushing through the turbines and helping to generate electricity. But at high tide the gates are shut, which allows a 14foot difference in height to build between the water inside the lagoon and the estuary outside.
As the gates are opened – the water rushes through the turbines again – generating even more electricity as the lagoon’s 23ft diameter turbines can generate on both the incoming and outgoing tides.
The turbines will be permanently out of sight underwater and at high tide, around 3.5 metres of wall will be visible and at low tide, up to 12 metres.
A BEIS spokesman added: “The Government is considering the recommendations in the Hendry Review and the issues which arise from a broader programme.
“Government will require a period of time to assess the merits of such a programme and determine what is in the best interest of the UK energy consumer and taxpayer in the long term, and will publish its response to the Hendry Review in due course.”