body-container-line-1

World's first tidal lagoon power station backed by British report

By GNA
International World's first tidal lagoon power station backed by British report
JAN 13, 2017 LISTEN

London (dpa/GNA) - The world's first tidal lagoon energy project could change Britain's energy industry and coastline forever after a government-commissioned report gave it the stamp of approval on Thursday.

The 1.3-billion-pound (1.6-billion-dollar) lagoon in Swansea Bay, Wales, would use the ebb and flow of the sea's tides to drive turbines and generate electricity.

In the report compiled by lawmaker Charles Hendry, he recommended tidal lagoons as a cost-effective form of renewable energy which would help Britain's goals for decarbonization.

The Swansea Bay project would be Britain's first tidal power station as well as the first tidal lagoon in the world and could pave the way for a network of larger lagoons across the country.

A tidal lagoon is a U-shaped breakwater built out from the coast with a bank of hydro turbines inside.

Water fills up and empties the man-made lagoon as the tides rise and fall, generating electricity four times a day.

According to developer Tidal Lagoon Power, construction will take four years, with the first power generated in the third year.

But Hendry warned that the first project was not a guaranteed success, and recommended the creation of a Tidal Power Authority to oversee the new industry and close monitoring of the lagoon's environmental impact.

The government would still need to agree on a deal and approve a marine licence before the pathfinder project could be launched. GNA.

body-container-line