Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Minsters told to revisit tidal power option
THE threat of climate change should lead the government to look again at harnessing tidal power in the Severn Estuary, ministers have been told.
Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, has urged the government to “harbour” the energy from the Severn Estuary – which he said could be the “second-largest source of tidal power in the world” – if it is going to cut the UK’s carbon emissions.
According to United Nation scientists, world leaders have only 12 years to put measures in place to prevent the world’s temperatures from rising by 1.5C.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warned whole continents could become barren, with changes in temperatures bringing about more extreme weather conditions if temperatures rise above 2C.
Labour MP Mr Jones, as well as calling for more international efforts to tackle rising temperatures, said ministers should be switching to renewable energy in a bid to lower the UK’s CO2 output and reliance on fossil fuels.
The vegan politician said one of the ideas that should be considered is to invest in tidal power, establishing barriers that could turn the power of the sea into electricity as it moves through the Severn Estuary.
Parts of the Severn Estuary – the two uninhabited islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm – are officially deemed to be in Mr Jones’ Bristol constituency.
The government has so far been reluctant to put money into tidal power, having earlier this year rejected plans for a £1.3bn tidal lagoon in Swansea.
Mr Jones, speaking in Tuesday’s climate change debate, said: “I and so many of my constituents are trying to build renewable energy solutions, albeit without much luck to date on tidal energy, given the government’s decision to pull funding for the Swansea bay tidal lagoon.
“My constituency has two islands in the Severn Estuary – Steep Holm and Flat Holm – which means my boundaries include a big chunk of the second-largest source of tidal power in the world, but nothing is there to harbour its energy. The government need to move much more quickly.”
Speaking after the Westminster Hall debate, Mr Jones said: “We have the second largest tidal potential in the world, only behind Canada, and my question to government is, why aren’t they doing something about it? We were hopeful the Swansea project would get given the go-ahead and we could piggy on the back of that but that hasn’t happened.
“At the moment, I think I’m right in saying there is no public money being given to harnessing tidal power anywhere in the country.”
Proponents of a tidal barrier in the Severn estuary suggest its high tidal range of 50m means it could produce five per cent of the UK’s electricity but there are environmental concerns about its impact, especially on the nature reserves on Flat Holm and Steep Holm islands.
Mr Jones said he had spoken to experts who suggested tidal barriers could be utilised in the channel, despite concerns in the past that the heavy silt movement in the estuary could clog-up the eco technology.
Climate change minister Claire Perry was unable to reply to Mr Jones at the debate due to it clashing with a cabinet meeting, but Kelly Tolhurst, the business minister standing in for her, said the government was consulting on whether to make its carbon emissions target more ambitious in light of the IPCC report.
The government’s current commitment is to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, compared with 1990 levels.
Ms Tolhurst said: “We have joined with the Scottish and Welsh governments to ask the independent committee on climate change for advice on the UK’s long-term emissions target, and on whether we should move to a goal of net zero emissions.
“We will consider that advice carefully when it is complete in March next year. Going low carbon is not only good for the environment – we also see it as good for business.