Cumbrian Energy Revolution

Towards a Sustainable Cumbria

  • Home
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Nuclear News
    • Renewables News
    • Farm & Forest News
    • Renewable Heat News
    • Energy Efficiency News
    • Taking Action News
    • Other Sectors News
  • Nuclear
    • Nuclear General
    • Sellafield
    • New Reactors
    • Radwaste
  • Coal
  • Renewables
    • Renewables General
    • Wind
    • Small Hydro
    • Tidal
  • Farm & Forest
    • Farming Energy
    • Wood Fuel
    • Anaerobic Digesters
  • Renewable Heat
    • Renewable Heat
    • District Heating
    • Geothermal
  • Energy Efficiency
    • Benefits of Efficiency
    • Programme for Cumbria
    • Electrical Appliances
  • Taking Action
    • Microgeneration
    • Local Authorities
    • Community Action
    • Action by Individuals
  • Other Sectors
    • Other Sectors
  • Contact

Tidal

The August 2009 Cumbria Vision report said studies in the 1980s revealed that the Solway Firth and Morecambe Bay came second and third among UK estuaries, ranked for tidal potential. It is estimated that a 30-km tidal barrage across the mouth of the Solway could produce 5.5-8GW of power, which is only slightly less than a major Severn scheme. A barrage across Morecambe Bay could yield 3GW and a Duddon estuary barrage perhaps 500MW. Obviously, as there have been some major environmental objection to the Severn Barrage, these proposals would need to be carefully assessed.

Cumbria Vision said proposals which were current in 2009 were for relatively modest schemes. Bridge Across the Bay (BatB) has been investigating the potential for free-stream vertical axis tidal stream technology in Morecambe Bay. The 18-km bridge (providing an enhanced communication corridor between Barrow and the M6 near Morecambe) would support arrays of turbines in the main channels, augmented by wind turbines. It is estimated that it might have a capacity of 200MW.(1) The feasibility study killed off the plans according to the Lancaster Guardian. BatB, a private company, said the bridge between Heysham and Rampside, near Barrow, would cost £677m to build and would generate annual income of £84m, including £11m from tolls and £63m from wind and tidal energy. The North West Development Agency’s consultants, headed by Regeneris, disputed these figures. They said the bridge would cost £2.34billion to build and would only generate £51.6m of annual income – £2.8m from tolls, £39.4m from wind turbines and £9m from tidal power. (2)

The Solway Energy Gateway Ltd (SEGL) is proposing the construction of a tidal energy generating system between Bowness on Solway and Seafield, Annan, at the point where a viaduct once spanned the Firth. The Firth is one mile across at this ‘pinch’ point, with the estuary widening on either side of it, consequently the tidal flow becomes concentrated. It has been calculated that there could be a capacity for about 250MW at this point. And, given the experience of the La Rance barrage at St Malo in France predictable energy could be produced for 14 of every 24 hours. Significantly the preferred site is within 3 miles of a major electricity grid connection at the NDA’s Chapelcross Power Station, site which ceased generating in 2002 .

A 2009/10 feasibility study, by Halcrow, considered a range of options and alignments including: barrages, tidal reefs, fences and lagoons. The Feasibility Study, and on-going consultation, has made it clear that a scheme entailing confinement of water and permanent inundation of the salt marsh lands and estuary east of the alignment would not be acceptable. The technology now being proposed is called VETT (Venturi-Enhanced Turbine Technology) (previously known as Spectral Marine Energy Converter (SMEC)) which creates a slight rise in the upstream water level as a result of its operation. It is, in effect, a porous weir. VETT only slows the tide ebb and flow thus maintaining the existing biodiversity and ecology. The Solway has a rich and diverse ecology. As a consequence of its unique environment it attracts the highest ratings of protection (RAMSAR, SPA, SAC, SSSI). Therefore any tidal capture project will have to be very sensitively approached ensuring balance is maintained.

SEGL and another company VerdErg have combined forces to develop VETT for Solway Tidal and 12 smaller Hydro schemes throughout Cumbria and South West Scotland. Tests have been carried out in Utrecht in the Netherlands to determine if a prototype of the VETT passes environmental assessments relating to potential impact on the fish population. Nigel Catterson, chairman of Solway Energy Gateway Ltd, says the tests could not have gone better.(3) The next stage is to find development partners for the Bowness-Annan project with a view to getting the scheme up and running between 2018 and 2020. Anticipated investment needed is between £300m and £400m, and the lifespan of the technology would be at least 120 years. Energy produced by the Bowness-Annan scheme would be between 180-200 megawatt capacity, with a consistent output of about 50 megawatts .

There was no proposal for the Duddon Estuary at the time of the Cumbria Vision report in 2009. However in 2010 Britain’s Energy Coast commissioned energy consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff to explore tidal options for the Duddon. Tidal barrages, fences, reefs and other innovative technologies were all considered along with the potential for a road link between Millom and Barrow-in-Furness.(4) Previous studies have suggested the Duddon Estuary has potential to generate around 100MW of energy and cut 17 miles off the journey between Millom and Barrow. Britain’s Energy Coast view this as a project that would support the development of new nuclear reactors at Sellafield (because of the road link).(5) The Parsons Brinckerhoff study(6) concluded that a Tidal Barrage generating 280GWh per year is technically feasible and could be constructed by 2020 (at the earliest) at a cost of between £650m and £750m, but progress would be subject to many commercial and environmental considerations. Including a transport link would add approximately £140m to the cost.

There are also now plans being developed for a Tidal Lagoon in the Solway, similar to plans for Swansea. (7)

  1. Bridge Across the Bay Feasibility Study, North West Development Agency February 2009
  2. Lancaster Guardian 25th August 2011
  3. Britain’s Energy Coast Magazine, August 2013 and NW Evening Mail 21st August 2013
  4. Utility Week 23rd Feb 2010 and News and Star 26th April 2010
  5. Tidal: Environmental restraint is Key, Britain’s Energy Coast (2010)
  6. Duddon Estuary Tidal Energy: Technical Summary
  7. Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay
Share

Renewables News

  • Cumbria’s ‘Clean’ Energy Strategy?

    The Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership is consulting on its Clean Energy Strategy. It’s important for everyone in Cumbria concerned to protect our planet to take a look at this and …

  • Cumbria Green Jobs and Young People

    Cumbria has a key role to play in tackling the climate and nature emergencies. But does the region have the skilled workforce to deliver the progress needed in the next …

  • Potential for Green Jobs in Cumbria

    Proponents of Cumbria’s proposed coal mine often point to its potential to create 500 new jobs. But the county could create thousands of jobs and attract billions of pounds of …

  • Nottingham’s Net Zero Ambition

    Nottingham City Council has been named the overall winner in the Guardian’s Public Service Awards. He Council announced in January that it intended to become the UK’s first carbon-neutral city …

  • Net Zero Bristol by 2030

    Bristol City Council – controlled by Labour – was the first council in the country to declare a climate emergency in November 2018. That motion was unanimously passed and now …

Renewables Information

Cumbria Renewable Energy and Capacity Deployment Study A report by sustainable economic and social development consultants, SQW for Cumbria County Council published in August 2011 giving a detailed assessment of the renewable resources available.

The Scope for Renewable Energy in Cumbria is a report published by the precursor body to Britain’s Energy Coast - Cumbria Vision in 2009. This envisioned the creation of almost 8,000 by 2050 from developing renewable energy.

A WWF report – Positive Energy: How renewable electricity can transform the UK by 2030, October 2011. Shows that renewable sources could meet 60% or more of the UK’s electricity demand by 2030.

A Plan for Clean British Energy: Powering the UK with renewables and without nuclear. Friends of the Earth September 2012.

Energy Scenarios 2020-2030: Alternatives to the UK Government’s gas / nuclear /renewable scenarios - a look at the potential of non-wind renewables coming to the fore. Nuclear Free Local Authorities Briefing 12th Feb 2013.

Zero Carbon Britain: Rethinking the Future, Centre for Alternative Technology, 2013. Presents new research in two key areas 'keeping the lights on' with a variable renewable energy supply, and 'feeding ourselves properly' on a low carbon diet.

More reports on the feasibility and costs of decarbonising the UK, Europe and the world—and the costs of not taking action – can be found on the from Greenhouse to Green House website

Copyright © 2022 West Cumbria & North Lakes friends of the earth / No2NuclearPower.org.uk. · Site development by Lynx Graphic Design.