Stark differences between Blue Eden and first lagoon plan
THERE is a huge wave of fresh optimism over Swansea’s future following the announcement of a new £1.7 billion energy, technology and residential development planned at Swansea docks.
The Blue Eden project will include battery manufacturing and storage, a solar farm, data centre, houses, flats, oceanic and climate change research centre, and tidal energy lagoon.
It is expected to take 12 years to deliver in full, create 2,500 permanent jobs, and will require planning permission among other consents.
Whilst the announcement has been met with much excitement, others have perhaps understandably met it with scepticism, comparing it to the failed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon plans, which promised to deliver the world’s first tidal lagoon plant in Swansea, but never materialised.
We have taken a closer look at the new plans for the Blue Eden project, and looked at how it differs from the plans that were put forward by Tidal Power PLC for the ill-fated tidal lagoon.
It won’t need government funding
The project is not expected to require any public subsidy, which is a big departure from the tidal lagoon which was scuppered when the UK Government declined to offer financial support which guaranteed the lagoon’s price of electricity – a move considered essential for the scheme’s viability.
New people behind the scheme
Blue Eden is being led by Bridgendbased firm DST Innovations.
Tony Miles, co-founder and chief executive of DST Innovations, said: “Blue Eden is an opportunity to create a template for the world to follow – utilising renewable energy and maximising new technologies and thinking to develop not only a place to live and work, but also to thrive.”
He added: “I am extremely dedicated to this project in every which way you can imagine.”
DST Innovations is in discussions with the owners of Swansea docks, Associated British Ports (ABP), about the project.
It will have housing
Phase three of the plans for the Blue Eden project, which will take five years, would see waterfront houses and flats for up to 5,000 people, commercial space, and 144 floating homes anchored in Queen’s Dock.
There will be a battery facility
Phase one of the works will include the construction of a battery manufacturing facility, battery storage facility to store the renewable energy produced on site.
Just over 1,000 people will work at the battery manufacturing facility, with a further 1,500 at the data centre.
Different features
This project will feature an oceanic and climate change research centre, along with three visitor domes.