"Turning The Tide"

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has carried out a comprehensive study of tidal power in the UK, including an evaluation of proposals for a Severn barrage.

The report, ‘Tidal Power in the UK’, argues that the UK’s outstanding tidal resources could provide at least 10% of the country’s electricity. It includes a series of recommendations to Government on how to develop our tidal resource, and emerging tidal technologies, to provide secure, low carbon electricity for the long term.

The study suggests that a barrage in the Severn Estuary could supply 4.4% of UK electricity supply (17 terawatt-hours) from the second greatest tidal range resource in the world, generating electricity for over 120 years. It also outlines that the UK has an excellent tidal stream resource, and is leading the world in the development of a wide range of tidal stream devices.

The final reports of the SDC commissioned work can be found here.