THE Welsh Government has officially initiated a £750,000 competition aimed at researchers focused on advancing tidal lagoon technology. First Minister Mark Drakeford initially announced the funding for this challenge in March of this year. The government intends to allocate the funds to a minimum of three research projects centred on deploying this technology along the Welsh coastline. The funds will be awarded in three categories: Environment, Engineering and Technical, and Finance and Socio-Economic. Interested parties can submit their applications until September 18, and the winners will be announced in spring 2024.
Tidal lagoons, which harness the natural ebb and flow of tides to generate electricity, are considered a more efficient alternative to offshore wind farms. These power stations capture a large volume of water behind a man-made structure, which is then released to drive turbines and produce electricity. Unlike wind energy, tidal lagoons offer a predictable energy source. Moreover, the estimated operational lifespan of tidal lagoons is approximately four times longer than offshore wind farms.
Welsh Minister for Climate Change Julie James expressed the urgency of addressing climate and nature emergencies, stating, “It is imperative that we utilize all of our resources to reduce our energy consumption but also to generate more clean energy.” Wales benefits from having the second highest tidal range in the world, presenting a valuable opportunity to harness renewable energy from its coastline and combat the climate crisis. The tidal lagoon challenge is a part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to establishing Wales as a global hub for emerging tidal technologies.
Julie James further emphasized the significance of the tidal lagoon challenge, stating, “We believe the tidal lagoon challenge has an important role to play in realizing the Welsh Government’s ambition for a tidal lagoon to be developed in Welsh waters.” She expressed enthusiasm to witness the innovative ideas and concepts that applicants will contribute and looks forward to the research outcomes.
There are currently plans for three tidal lagoon projects in Wales. The Blue Eden renewable energy project, worth billions of pounds, is set to proceed in Swansea. Additionally, Conwy and Denbighshire councils have officially endorsed a £7 billion tidal lagoon project off the Conwy and Denbighshire coast. Moreover, there are proposals for a tidal lagoon to be constructed adjacent to the Port of Mostyn in the Dee estuary.
However, the previous endeavor to build the UK’s first tidal energy lagoon in Swansea Bay faced obstacles. The company responsible for the project lost its appeal against a legal ruling, which stated that work on the lagoon had not commenced within five years of receiving planning approval in December of the previous year. Consequently, the development consent order (DCO) for the project became invalid. Although the developer conducted ground investigation and survey works in November 2016, these activities were not considered “material operations,” thus failing to meet the criteria for project commencement.
The project encountered financial difficulties the following year, and despite the Welsh government’s willingness to contribute £200 million, the UK government deemed the project to offer poor value for money and declined to provide funding. As a result of the Swansea Bay project’s failure, it has become more challenging for potential developers to obtain consent for new tidal range projects.
