Turning the tides

A consortium of UK engineering companies is proposing a multi-billion pound renewable project with the development of a barrage across the Severn estuary that could harness tidal energy to generate double the output of a nuclear power station. The Severn Tidal Power Group (STPG) says that the proposal is a fine example of how renewable power could complete in scale with nuclear. The group claims that the structure will exploit the unique tidal conditions of the Severn estuary and the barrage would create a basin that would fill on the rising tide, impounding the water as the tide falls. The barrage will be made from a series of huge caissons also known as concrete blocks that are common in underwater construction. It is believed that the primary environmental impact of a tidal lagoon will be that it will add habitat and enhance biodiversity. It is suggested that public support as well as political support are essential for such a proposal.