English and Welsh waters are to be scoped out, for the first time, for their potential to host marine energy devices. A new study will look at the potential for wave, tidal-stream and tidal range technologies around the English and Welsh coastline.
Speaking at the British Wind Energy Agency (BWEA), tidal and wave conference Lord Hunt said:
“The marine energy sector has reached a pivotal stage with more and more devices ready to go into the water. The screening exercise in English and Welsh waters is a significant step forward in our plans to harness the power of our seas and secure a renewable and low carbon energy supply.”
The screening exercise will allow us to understand better the energy potential of marine energy devices and the realistic timescale of when multiple devices will be installed and commissioned. This work will also build on data already gathered for the Offshore Energy SEA, the Welsh Marine Energy Strategic Plan and other studies.
We will seek input from developers, utilities and other relevant bodies about their plans and preferred locations for developing commercial scale Marine energy farms. We will also identify any data gaps needed to put in place a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) for marine energy devices in England and Wales.
The scoping exercise will inform us on whether a full SEA for England and Wales is required. This scoping exercise will exclude the Severn Estuary as a feasibility study is already underway. Launched September 2007, the feasibility study for the Severn is assessing costs, benefits and impacts of a Severn tidal power project or projects to enable Government to decide whether or not to support a Severn tidal power scheme. A consultation on a proposed short-list of five schemes (including barrages and lagoons) for more detailed analysis this year has now closed and a government response will follow this summer.
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