The Severn Barrage has been in the media spotlight over the past week as speculation into the possible pros and cons of this project has been the subject of heated debate following a Government commissioned feasibility report. However, with at least £20bn of tax payer’s money at stake, the focus should be on exploring more than one tidal energy opportunity rather than shall we say; putting all our eggs in one basket?
The worry is that the barrage will be considered as the only viable option when in reality this couldn’t be further from the truth. WWF is concerned that the decision on the barrage feasibility study means that the Government's attention will be drawn away from all those indigenous UK companies developing elegant, sustainable, replaceable, upgradeable tidal technology, and what a missed opportunity it is.
£20 billion invested in energy efficiency and other renewable technologies could produce much quicker results given political will: some economists estimate that the barrage is 10 times more expensive than other carbon abatement methods. Given the urgency of climate change, we can’t wait until 2022 for a return on our investments.
WWF strongly believes that the feasibility study, which the Government has commissioned, should examine the full range of tidal technologies, and consider the pros and cons of each of the possible ways of utilising the tidal energy in the Severn estuary - indeed; this should be required anyway under the Habitats Directive. It would also provide some reassurance if the Government also reconfirmed its support for the Habitats Directive, one of the most enlightened pieces of legislation in the battle against climate change.
The common misconception is that the barrage could generate up to 5% of the UK ’s energy needs: this is not the case. It has the potential to generate around 4.4% of the UK’s electricity according to official reports, electricity makes up only a fraction of the UK’s energy use. The rest is fuel oil, coal and gas, used for heating and transport. The barrage would therefore contribute around 1.5% of the UK’s energy supply, but not until at least 2022
Guest editor: Camilla Horrox, WWF
