Severn Estuary Tidal Power Consultation - Resource Page
Latest News
- Boost for Severn Barrage plans as major firms start assessment of project (Wales Online, 9th May 2013)
- Severn Barrage and Tidal Energy Conference, 26 June 2013 (Institute of Civil Engineers, 30th April 2013)
- Sustainable Severn Conference (Sustainable Severn, 18th April 2013)
- VIDEO: A Severn Barrage? The Rance Experience (Severn Rivers Trust, 16th April 2013)
Severn Barrage proposals called into question
Severn Barrage unlikely to be given the green light before the next general election in 2015
- No backing for Severn barrage without proof Bristol Port would not suffer (South West Business, 4th March 2013)
- Nuclear emergency 'reinforces need for Severn Barrage' - Peter Hain (Wales Online, 4th March 2013)
- Severn Estuary renewable energy ideas to be discussed (BBC News, 2nd March 2013)
- Severn barrage: Pre-election consent not likely - Barker (BBC News, 28th February 2013)
£30bn Severn Barrage plan could progress
The latest news from the Government regarding the Severn Barrage is that it could still be built, despite opposition from some MPs and environmental groups, if the right proposals were submitted.
- Severn Barrage: Ed Davey says £30bn plan could progress (BBC News, 13 December 2012)
- Severn barrage backers seek investors (The Financial Times, 17th December 2012)
- YOUR AM WRITES: South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle (South Wales Argus, 11th December 2012)
- Severn Barrage scheme: Vale council voices its concerns (Wales Online, 17th December 2012)
Background to Tidal Power on the Severn Estuary
Few people interested in the Severn estuary and the surrounding area can be unaware of the debate about harnessing the power of the tides. It is the biggest issue currently affecting the estuary and one which the Severn Estuary Partnership is keen to see properly debated.
The UK Government is committed to generating 20% of the nation's energy from renewable sources by 2020. A tidal power project in the Severn estuary could also contribute to the UK’s commitment to meeting the European Union’s Renewable energy target along with domestic and international greenhouse gas targets. It is claimed that developments in the Severn estuary, with a tidal range of 14 metres (the second largest tidal range in the world), could make a major contribution to meeting both these ambitious targets, but any scheme is inevitably going to have a significant impact on habitats and wildlife. Some proposals could also influence shipping to the ports of Cardiff, Bristol, Gloucester, Newport and Sharpness.
A number of organisations have stressed the need for an open public debate in order to help identify the best way of capturing the enormous renewable energy resource of the Severn estuary whilst safeguarding its internationally important combination of species and habitats and bringing lasting benefits to local communities. The Government’s Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study Consultation was therefore about gathering and assessing evidence to enable Government to decide whether or not to support tidal power development in the Severn Estuary.
- News Archive and Further Background Information
- Written evidence on the subject of the Severn Barrage can still be submitted to the Commons Select Committee
Websites
- Avon Wildlife Trust
- BERR webpage on tidal power in the Severn Estuary National Archives website
- Friends of the Earth Severn Barrage Page
- Greenpeace on the Severn Barrage
- Hafren Power
- National Archives - Severn Tidal Power
- Parsons Brinckerhoff
- RSPB Severn Barrage News
- Save our Severn blog
- Severn Lake Official Website
- Stop the Barrage
- Sustainable Development Commission 'Tidal Power in the UK'
- Sustainable Severn Conference
- Tidal Electric
- Tidal Lagoon, Swansea Bay
- Welsh Assembly Government - Severn Tidal Power
- Wikipedia Severn Barrage Page
- WWF Cymru Statement on the Severn Barrage
Major Reports and Conferences
- Corlan
Hafren - Severn Barrage - Regional Vision (10/2010)
- DECC
- Severn Tidal Power - Feasibility Study Conclusions and Summary Report
(10/2010)
- Environment
Agency response (05/2009)
- Friends
of the Earth - The Severn Barrage (09/2007)
- Marine
Conservation Society
- RSPB
- Severn Tidal Power (02/2010)
- Sustainable
Development Commission 'Tidal Power in the UK' (30/09/2007)
- Sustainable Severn Conference (18/04/2013)
- WWF
Frontier Economics Barrage Report (12/06/2008)
Articles in the Media
The Times has also published a good series of articles, however these are only available to subscribers to their site.
Articles in Journals and News Sites
All website links correct as of 12/03/2013, please contact severn@cardiff.ac.uk if you find any that are broken.
About the Severn Estuary Partnership
Note: It is not the intention of the Severn Estuary Partnership to take any position regarding the debate about tidal power in the estuary, merely to provide a resource on the subject. About us. The different groups on the estuary and their various websites are easily viewed from the Severn Estuary Gateway.
Severn Estuary Forum 2013
The 2013 Severn Estuary Forum will be held on Thursday the 26th September at the Gloucester Guildhall, Gloucester. The Severn Estuary Forum is a key annual event hosted by the Severn Estuary Partnership. As part of our programme, and due to the fact that the Severn Barrage is again in the news, a number of the presentations on this day will be related to, or focussing directly on the tidal power resource of the Severn Estuary.
Details of our exciting 2013 programme will be available soon. In the meantime, please have a look at last year's forum in Bristol: Severn Estuary Forum 2012
State of the Severn Estuary Report
This document is set to be the first in a series that reports on the state of and changes in the natural and human environment of the Severn Estuary, establishing baseline data in the context of climate and other coastal change.
One of the main objectives was to inform a wide ranging audience, including local people and industry professionals alike, on why the Estuary is so unique by providing a non-technical overview of the Estuary environment; focusing on its uses and resources.
Future editions of the report will focus on the identification and analysis of a robust set of sustainability indicators, which can not only be used to determine the health of the Estuary environment and its resources, but will also aid in the development of effective management measures.
State
of the Severn Estuary Report
The ‘State of the Severn Estuary Report’ has been produced by the Severn Estuary Partnership and Cardiff University, in collaboration with the Environment Agency (Wales). With support from the Interreg IVb IMCORE project, the report has been developed to incorporate contributions from the University’s lecturers, local industries, stakeholders and even Estuary residents – such as Miranda Krestovnikoff, presenter of the BBC’s Coast series – who kindly wrote the foreword and launched the summary document at the 2011 annual Severn Estuary Forum.
