Tidal lagoons offer huge potential to harness the power of the tide.

Tidal lagoons are fast becoming strategic options to add to the UK’s mix of sustainable power generation.

With suitable tidal range, they can be built in the natural bays and inlets of the UK’s coastline, offering huge potential to harness the power of the tide. Along with the low-carbon electricity, tidal lagoons also have the potential to deliver a range of economic, social and environmental enhancements to their respective regions. 

In February 2014, Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd submitted a planning application for its Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon Project, the world’s first man-made, energy generating lagoon.  When complete it will provide renewable, predictable power generation for over 155,000 homes for the next 120 years. 

In addition to Swansea Bay, other tidal lagoons are now being considered to utilise the high tidal range of the Severn Estuary and surrounding area. Cardiff Bay, Newport and Bridgwater Bay are all in the early phases but have yet to undergo EIAs. The potential power generation from Cardiff Bay alone is substantial (4-6TWh), generating enough electricity to supply all Welsh homes annually. 

Additional tidal lagoon projects around the country are also progressing. Colwyn Bay’s lagoon is a promising development opportunity for North Wales that’s currently in the early feasibility and consultation stage. The coastline of west Cumbria experiences one of the UK’s highest tidal ranges and for this reason offers great potential for energy generation. Again, this tidal lagoon is in the early planning stages but would be a significant addition to Britain’s energy infrastructure. 

ABPmer has been involved with the UK tidal range sector since 2008 having been part of the consortium that delivered the Strategic Environmental Assessment associated with the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study that investigated whether the UK Government could support a tidal power scheme in the Severn and, if so, on what terms.  A high level study that still remains relevant to advancing lagoon and barrage schemes. 

We continue to support tidal energy development in the UK and were pleased to have been able to contribute to the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon Environmental Statement.  Using our multi-disciplinary expertise, we wrote the navigation, coastal processes, marine mammals and benthic ecology chapters. Authoring these four topics presented an important opportunity to closely integrate the marine subjects, creating a unified document.

Our experience gained from working with the world’s most advanced tidal lagoon developments puts us in a strong position to assist other lagoon projects transition through the feasibility, planning and consent stages as smoothly as possible. 

To learn more about ABPmer's services to the renewables sector, email Tony Brooks or call +44 (0)23 8071 1894.