![]() ![]() These contrasting perspectives all use different time periods for modelling costs and benefits but a common thread is that a shorter time-frame flatters alternatives to tidal power and a longer time-frame flatters tidal power compared to its alternatives. Building tidal power requires a subsidy, but the impact on total system cost is minimal". The Aurora Energy Research report also states "Amongst renewables, solar PV, onshore wind and offshore wind are the main sources of new renewables to enter economically under a carbon target. This states "Offshore wind becomes economical in the 2030s without subsidies, tidal never becomes competitive without government support". The first report by the National Infrastructure Commission published on 11 July 2018 appears to exclude the role of any form of tidal power in the UK's future green energy mix in favour of wind, solar and electric cars based on a report by Aurora Energy Research looking at the market up to 2050. BEIS responded that the figures used are out of date. The calculations and assumptions made by BEIS which lie behind the rejection of the plan have been challenged by the company behind the proposal in an independently audited riposte which intimates that misleading statements were put to the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee. A House of Commons Briefing Paper has tried to provide some context for MPs following the conflicting statements and views regarding the facts around tidal lagoons, the Swansea Bay proposal, and its rejection by the UK Government. The value for money calculation included the cost of all six of the proposed lagoons in the 35-year cost comparison. The main reason given was that there was little cost reduction potential for future lagoons, and a series of lagoons would cost the average electricity consumer an additional £700 by between 20 compared to a mix of offshore wind and nuclear power projects. On 25 June 2018 the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) rejected a contract for difference electricity purchasing agreement necessary to fund the £1.3 billion proposal. In early June 2018 the Welsh Government offered to invest £200 million to improve the project's difficult business case. The project was named as part of the UK Government's 2014 National Infrastructure Plan and was granted development consent by the Department for Energy and Climate Change in June 2015, although the department stated that decisions relating to affordability were a separate matter. It would be constructed to withstand 500-year-storms and to function as a coastline protection against storms and floods. Selective quotes from my Review do not enable us to have a proper debate. The issue here was can we start a new global industry from the UK? Swansea would just be the start. just as gas plants and wind farms only create a small number of long-term jobs. The 2016 Hendry Review (the source of these figures) also considered the economic impact of two additional tidal lagoons: "Cardiff could support five times more total direct FTEs than (11,482) Colwyn Bay could support six times more (13,918)". ĭuring the construction period the project would have sustained over 2,200 construction and manufacturing jobs, but in operation would only require 28 workers. However, as the monthly variation is predictable, tidal lagoon energy could allow reduction in the amount of energy generated by gas-fired power plants. The UK government considered intermittency due to the tides and that the Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay would have had a load factor of 19% compared to around 50% for offshore wind power. There are different ways to evaluate tidal energy output. According to the company, generation could operate 14 hours per day with a maximum output of 320 MW ( nameplate capacity), enough to power around 155,000 homes. The scheme is promoted by Tidal Lagoon (Swansea Bay) plc. ![]() If built, the project would have become the world's first tidal lagoon power plant other types of tidal power plants do exist. ![]() Other options to enable the proposal to go ahead were reportedly still being explored. Development consent was granted by the UK government in June 2015, and in June 2018 the Welsh Government approved the plan and offered to invest £200 million however, later that month the UK government withdrew its support on value-for-money grounds. Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay was a proposed tidal lagoon power plant that was to be constructed in Swansea Bay off the south coast of Wales, United Kingdom. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |