illust. Hammerfest Strøm

The U.K. government has hired the first contractors to examine the environmental impact of tidal energy generators at a project which could produce almost five percent of England and Wales' electricity needs.

Parsons Brinckerhoff will manager a strategic environmental assessment of the project for the project planned for Sevan Estuary, the largest U.K. tidal estuary with the most potential for power.

PricewaterhouseCoopers will advise to U.K. Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory on how the project might be financed, including ownership options. Government support for the renewable energy project is being considered.

Parsons Brinckerhoff will in the coming week put out the call for proposals on tidal-power schemes and technology. A feasibility announced in January will consider all “tidal range” but not “tidal stream” technologies.

Tidal range is the vertical difference between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide, which is up to 42 feet in the Welsh Severn Estuary. Electricity is generated by impounding a large volume of water on the high tide and then passing this water through turbines once a height difference is created.

At least one plan, envisioned by the Severn Tidal Power Group, a consortium of interested companies, sees a £15 billlion barrage, or bridge-dam, built between England and Wales and producing 17 billion kilowatt hours via 214 40-megawatt turbines.

Carbon emissions under the consortium’s plan would be cut 16 million tonnes a year.

ws@scandoil.com