F E AT U R E By Alister Kratt
The power of water Just a few years ago, the future of tidal lagoon power looked rosy. It promised to make a new and important contribution to the renewable energy mix. An independent report for Government endorsed tidal lagoon power and its pathfinder project, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. But tidal energy has stalled. Why? What does this reveal about the UK’s approach to infrastructure, and can the landscape profession lead the case for new thinking?
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he Swansea Tidal Lagoon is planned to connect Swansea and the docks in the west to Swansea University’s new Bay campus and Crymlyn Burrows to the east. With its 9.5km U-shaped breakwater, or sea wall, built out from the coast, it can meet 90% of the region’s domestic electricity demand with its stable supply. The tidal lagoon was masterplanned by landscape architects, working with engineers and marine specialists. It is envisioned as multifunctional infrastructure. The masterplan provides for dynamic new public realm along the breakwater and at the landing points and into the city centre, and creates a destination for coastal recreation. It can regenerate the area, including the redundant dockside. The scheme won a resounding 86% approval from the community, drawn by its social, economic and environmental benefits. With a breakwater life of at least 120 years, the lagoon is designed to last twice as long as a nuclear facility and five times longer than an offshore wind farm. The breakwater reduces future flood risk and acts as an artificial reef system, providing new marine habitats and beach and saltwater marsh environments. The Government recognises the need to decarbonise energy generation at scale, yet in the UK, renewable energy still only provides around 20% of our daily needs. Swansea has always been a pathfinder for a national fleet of larger lagoons, matching the price of offshore wind with economies of scale. The fleet of proposed lagoons will be capable of supplying eight percent of the UK’s total electricity demand. So, why are we waiting? In 2017, an independent review for Government led by Charles Hendry analysed the strategic role of tidal lagoons as part of decarbonising the UK energy mix. Hendry
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endorsed their concept, and also Swansea, as cost effective. Yet one year later, the plans for Swansea were shelved by the UK government, on grounds of value for money. The discrepancy between Hendry’s advice and the Government’s decision comes down to cost being considered the primary factor in the delivery of zero carbon energy. While Hendry recognised the capacity of tidal lagoons to regenerate places, Government assessed the cost in isolation from the benefits. It seems that investment in tidal power in the UK is being frustrated by the unnecessarily tight confines of political thinking and existing forms of economic modelling. The energy industry works with Contracts for Difference (CFD), the government’s main scheme for supporting low-carbon electricity generation, which means that those supplying energy benefit from a subsidised flat unit rate. This underpins the investment they need to make, and protects consumers
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