Tidal Lagoon Power has announced it has taken a significant step in its plans for the UK's first full scale tidal lagoon between Cardiff and Newport with the submission of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) scoping report, while also confirming that early work is underway on plans for a further four projects in the country.
The Cardiff project, expected to have an installed capacity between 1800MW and 2800MW, follows the pioneering Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, a scheme developed to establish a scalable blueprint for the sector and due to receive a planning decision by 10 June 2015.
The submission of the scoping report to the Planning Inspectorate represents a first milestone in the delivery of the Cardiff Tidal Lagoon. Site selection and feasibility studies for the project began in 2011, with a dedicated engagement team established in 2013.
Tidal Lagoon Power said that early feasibility and engagement work is also underway relating to the delivery of four other full-scale UK tidal lagoons at Newport, West Cumbria, Colwyn Bay and Bridgwater Bay. Together, the lagoons could meet 8% of the UK's total electricity requirement for 120 years, the company said.
Plans for Tidal Lagoon Cardiff include up to 90 turbines set within a 22km breakwater that will enclose an area of around 70km2 with an average tidal range of 9.21m. The Western landfall would be approximately 2km from the entrance to Cardiff Bay and the Eastern landfall would be approximately 2km from the mouth of the River Usk. The lagoon has a design life of 120 years, will generate power for approximately 14 hours each day and could be powered on in 2022.
"Full-scale tidal lagoon infrastructure gives the UK an opportunity to generate electricity from our amazing tidal range at a cost comparable to fossil fuel or nuclear generation," said Mark Shorrock, Chief Executive of Tidal Lagoon Power. "We have the best tidal resource in Europe and the second best worldwide. We now have a sustainable way to make the most of this natural advantage.
"We will build on the template established for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon - applying the expertise and learning, scaling the UK supply chain and Turbine Assembly Plant, leveraging the institutional investor partnerships we have developed - to deliver a Cardiff Tidal Lagoon capable of working in harmony with nature to supply around 1.5 million UK homes, now and for generations to come, with affordable, reliable, low carbon electricity.
"There is still a long way to go and many environmental surveys to undertake but we will work in partnership with all nature conservation bodies so as to understand, avoid, minimise and mitigate any environmental impacts," added Shorrock.
Tidal Lagoon Power expects to submit a full planning application for Tidal Lagoon Cardiff in 2017, with a decision then expected in 2018. The lagoon will take up to five years to build.
