A “tidal lagoon” capable of powering all the homes in Wales could be built off the Cardiff coast, under Government-backed plans for a series of tidal electricity schemes around the UK.
Green energy company Tidal Lagoon Power began the official planning process for the proposed 14-mile seawall, which would stretch from Cardiff to Newport and cost up to £6bn. The company is already developing plans for a smaller pilot scheme in Swansea Bay and also wants to build four other large-scale lagoons – at Newport, West Cumbria, Colwyn Bay and Bridgwater Bay. It says the fleet of six lagoons could together generate 8 per cent of the UK’s needs for 120 years.
The UK Government has already supported the plans, naming the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon in the National Infrastructure Plan last year. The £1bn scheme, which involves a six-mile sea wall, is currently awaiting a decision, due by June, on its planning application.
Electricity from Swansea would be more expensive than that from any other major green energy project in the UK to date, the Citizens Advice consumer charity warned. The developer admits the scheme would be “expensive” initially but claims that the cost of electricity from the second, larger scheme in Cardiff would be cheaper, on a par with power from the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.
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