Hafren Power’s plans for a tidal barrage in the Severn Estuary would not deliver the benefits claimed, UK Government Ministers have said.
In June, a committee of MPs rejected the proposal saying it was unproven. Yesterday, Government ministers agreed stating that current plans for the barrage "does not demonstrate that it could deliver the benefits it claims it would achieve". The ministers added that it needed "robust and credible evidence" before it could approve plans, including detailed environmental impacts and evidence that finance could be arranged.
The news is seen a major blow for the £25B scheme, which Hafren Power say could generate 5% of the UK’s power. The proposal from Hafren Power is for an 18km fixed tidal barrage across the Severn estuary between Brean in England and Lavernock Point in Wales. It would have 1,026 very-low-head (VLH) bi-directional turbines, generating approximately 16.5 TWh/year on both ebb and flood tides.
