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Severn Barrage Tidal Power



Severn Barrage Tidal Power

Find out more about the potential for the world's largest tidal power station - The Severn Barrage

tidal
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Severn Barrage - Tidal Power

The Severn Barrage is a proposed tidal power station to be built across the Bristol Channel (Severn Estuary). The River Severn has a tidal range of 14 metres - the second highest in the world - making it perfect for tidal power generation.

The 15 billion pound Severn Barrage would involve the construction of a 10 mile long barrage (dam) between Lavernock Point south of Cardiff, Wales, and Brean Down in Somerset, England. The barrage would act as a bridge between England and Wales and will have an operational lifetime of up to 200 years.

Severn Barrage Electricity Generation


Plans for the Severn Barrage

Along the length of the Severn Barrage open sluice gates would allow the tide to flow in. These gates would then be closed at high tide trapping enormous quantities of water behind the barrage.

Tidal turbines built into a tidal barrage

A total of 214 40MW turbines would be built into the barrage through which the trapped water would return at high pressure when the tide turns generating electricity. (In order to permit shipping to pass through the barrage an enormous set of shipping locks would be constructed.)

The tidal turbines along the barrage would generate the same amount of electricity as three of the latest nuclear power stations - 8.6 MW during flow and 2 MW on average. This would be sufficient to provide 5-6% of the current electricity usage of England and Wales.

Producing on average in excess of 17 billion kWh of electricity annually, the UK's carbon emissions would be cut by 16 million tonnes each year (assuming Severn Barrage electricity replaced electricity which would otherwise be generated in coal-fired power stations) which equates to 3% of total current emissions.

Severn Tidal Power Group


Constructing the Severn Barrage

The Severn Tidal Power Group (STGP) is a consortium of engineering and construction companies (Balfour Beatty, Taylor Woodrow, Sir Robert McAlpine and Alstom) formed in 1981 to work on making the Severn Barrage a reality. They suggest that the Severn Barrage could be constructed in just six to eight years for £15 billion.

A total of 200,000 man years of employment would be generated with a total of 35,000 jobs during the peak period of construction. They also suggest that a further 40,000 permanent jobs would be generated in Somerset and South Wales thanks to the benefits of the proximity of the new Severn crossing point.

Environmental Effects of The Severn Barrage

The environmental effects of a barrage across the River Severn would be enormous. The WWF, RSPB, and Friends of the Earth have all launched campaigns against the plans to construct the Barrage pointing out that the effects on wildlife in the Severn Estuary would be disastrous and irreversible.

Severn Estuary Wading Birds

The Severn Estuary is designated a Special Area for Conservation. 85,000 migratory and wintering water birds (waders including oystercatchers, curlews, dunlins, ringed plovers etc) depend on the mud-flats which would be lost as a results of construction of the Barrage. In addition coastal erosion would be increased in some locations while additional silting would occur in others. The Barrage would also increase the likelihood of flooding along the coast on the seawardside.

The effect on marine life would not be so extreme since the water in the Severn Estuary contains a lot of silt brought up from the seabed by the effects of the tidal range.

La Rance Tidal Power


La Rance Tidal Power Plant - St. Malo, Brittany, France

There is still only one large scale commercial tidal power station in the world - La Rance Tidal Power Plant in Brittany, France. This currently generates 240MW of power and has been in operation for over 40 years without mechanical breakdown.

Article Last Modified: 16:43, 31st May 2007


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© 2006-2008 REUK - All Rights Reserved
Page Last Updated on 21st August 2008 at 01:08:27pm

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