Fleet of six tidal power lagoons planned for UK

The world’s first tidal power lagoons are to be built in six locations across the UK. Plans for the lagoons – four in Wales and one each in Somerset and […]

The world’s first tidal power lagoons are to be built in six locations across the UK.

Plans for the lagoons – four in Wales and one each in Somerset and Cumbria – will capture incoming and outgoing tides behind giant sea walls and use the weight of the water to power turbines.

Developer Tidal Lagoon Power said the project would have an installed capacity of between 1.8GW and 2.8GW and generate enough low carbon electricity to power every home in Wales for 120 years.

It has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment report for the fleet of six lagoons, which could meet 8% of the UK’s total electricity requirement for the same period of time.

Mark Shorrock, Chief Executive of Tidal Lagoon Power: “Full-scale tidal lagoon infrastructure gives the UK an opportunity to generate electricity from our amazing tidal range at a cost comparable to fossil fuel or nuclear generation.

“We have the best tidal resource in Europe and the second best worldwide. We now have a sustainable way to make the most of this natural advantage.”

Tidal Lagoon Power expects to submit a full planning application for the project in Cardiff by 2017, with a decision expected in 2018. The lagoon will take up to five years to build.

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