Hydro & Marine News

Thursday 04 February 2010

Initial results have identified nine main options incorporating a range of technologies including tidal barrage, tidal lagoon and tidal reef

The results of a feasibility study looking into generating renewable energy from the UK's third largest estuary on the border of England and Scotland have been published today (February 4) revealing nine possible options.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) published the results of the study showing that four barrage, two lagoon and three tidal reef options have been identified as potential ways to utilise the tidal resource in the Solway Firth.

As the third largest estuary in the UK and the second most powerful tidal estuary after the Severn, the study claimed that the Solway Firth had the potential to accommodate a range of renewable energy generation capacity, from under 100MW to around 6GW, which could support the UK in moving towards its 2020 renewables target.

The NWDA agreed to commission the £100,000 feasibility study looking into tidal energy options on the Solway Firth in July 2009 (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story).

According to the study, tidal energy in the Solway Firth could generate power for hundreds of thousands of homes, but would need significant financial support to proceed.

Co-ordinated by Scotland's main enterprise, innovation and investment agency, Scottish Enterprise, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority - which has strategic responsibility for the UK's nuclear legacy - and the NWDA, the ‘Solway Firth Energy Feasibility Study' assessed the viability of energy extraction from the estuary.

The current feasibility was assessed based on technical, financial, environmental and socio-economic terms.

According to the study, any development would result in significant investment and job creation in the region, as well as providing opportunities for niche skills and knowledge development.

Options

Initial results have identified nine main options incorporating a range of technologies including tidal barrage, tidal lagoon and tidal reef. The NWDA claimed that for each of the identified options, associated impacts have been considered, split into technical, environmental and financial limitations.

The nine options identified in the study are:

• Barrage 1: Workington to Abbey Head - largest barrage scheme with greatest energy output and environmental impact. Scale of construction and capital costs are limiting factors;
• Barrage 2: Southerness Point to Beckfoot - intermediate barrage, still with substantial environmental impact but offers some compromise;
• Barrage 3: Bowness to Annan - smaller barrage with reduced capital costs and energy output;
• Barrage 4: Moricambe Bay - barrage located out of main estuary to reduce environmental imapct. Small empounded area reduces available energy;
• Lagoon 1: Rascarrel to Southerness - larger lagoon on North side offering localised environmental impact but higher cost of generation than barrage options;
• Lagoon 2: Maryport to Beckfoot - southern lagoon with lowest energy output of the two options but similar potential environmental benefits;
• Reef 1: Workington to Abbey Head - largest reef scheme that enables large scale of generation with lower impact than barrage option;
• Reef 2: Southerness Point to Beckfoot - mid-range solution in terms of energy and environmental impact but improved cost of energy due to lower scale;
• Reef 3: Bowness to Annan - smallest reef where energy generation is limited by reduced tidal range in the shallow estuary. Potential to offer minimal environmental impact.

The report will be presented at the British Wind Energy Association's wave and tidal conference in March 2010, in order to raise awareness within the market of the estuary's potential.

Milestone

David Gass, regional director of Scottish Enterprise, said: "The completion of this study is a key milestone in the project, which will allow us to identify how the Solway Firth can help meet the government's targets relating to renewable energy generation and carbon reduction.

"The development of the Solway Firth as a source of renewable energy could yield significant economic benefits for the south of Scotland, and the Scottish economy as a whole, through the involvement of local companies in the construction and on-going operational activities.

Bob Churchill, head of corporate responsibility and socio economic development at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said: "Renewable technologies will play a vital role in meeting the UK's future energy needs and can potentially deliver significant economic benefits to local areas."

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of NWDA, added: "The completion of this initial feasibility study is just the first step towards informing the decision making on the necessary activities to plan and implement the correct energy generation project in the Solway Firth.

"The NWDA continues to work with national and regional partners on a range of projects and initiatives as part of our commitment to creating a low carbon economy."