Unlocking the Power of the Tides: Severn Estuary Commission Calls for Action

The Severn Estuary Commission has published its landmark 2025 recommendations, putting tidal range energy firmly back on the national agenda. With the second highest tidal range in the world, reaching up to 15 metres during spring tides, the Estuary has the potential to generate predictable, low-carbon electricity, enough to supply at least 2% of the UK’s electricity needs annually, with a lifespan of over 120 years.

After engaging over 500 stakeholders across 200 organisations, the Commission concluded that tidal energy in the Severn is not only feasible but essential to the UK’s net zero and energy security ambitions. However, it ruled out the development of a large barrage, previously proposed for the area, due to its high environmental and commercial impact.

The environmental value of the Severn Estuary is immense. It is one of the largest estuaries in Europe and a site of international ecological importance. According to the RSPB, the Estuary’s saltmarshes and mudflats support more than 100 fish species and host around 74,000 birds each winter, including species like the redshank. Its waters are teeming with invertebrates and play a crucial role in the region's biodiversity.

The Commission’s rejection of a barrage was welcomed by the RSPB, which called it “environmentally unacceptable.” However, the organisation also warned that tidal lagoons, while less intrusive, still present serious risks to wildlife that must be properly addressed.

Despite environmental concerns, the Commission recommended the development of a commercial-scale tidal lagoon as a demonstration project, one that would be co-designed by engineers and environmental experts, closely monitored, and subject to rigorous mitigation strategies. The goal is to establish whether such a project can be environmentally and commercially viable, potentially paving the way for further lagoons in the UK.

Key recommendations include:

·       Developing a commercial tidal lagoon demonstration project.

·       Rejecting a large barrage project due to unacceptable environmental and commercial impacts.

·       Creating a regional spatial plan to manage activity across the Estuary, with cross-border governance.

·       Establishing a public sector-led Project Delivery Vehicle to lead early-stage development and secure private investment.

·       Investing in environmental monitoring and research to fill crucial data gaps and inform decision-making.

Commission Chair Dr Andrew Garrad pointed out that two lagoons could deliver as much energy as Hinkley Point C, with significantly longer operational lives.

The Commission calls on the UK and Welsh Governments to provide policy backing and financial support, while highlighting the economic opportunity: potentially up to 220,000 job years during construction.

Tidal range energy, once a missed opportunity, now stands as a viable option for the UK’s clean energy future.

Read more here www.severncommission.co.uk