TLP seeks approval for Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon power project in UK

Tidal Lagoon Power (TLP) has submitted application seeking the Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008 for its Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon power project.

The company has completed three years of feasibility work and impact assessments for the project, the application of which be reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate before public examination, and then determination by the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change.

Under the project, a 9.5km long sea wall will be built to capture enough renewable energy from incoming and outgoing tides to power over 120,000 homes for 120 years.

The project aims to source at least 65% of content in the UK, kick-starting a new manufacturing industry and future export market.

TLP CEO Mark Shorrock said the UK government and environmentalists have been considering and promoting the tidal energy as an intuitive source of clean and reliable energy.

"The UK has the second highest tidal range in the world and today we are submitting an application for a development that will prove that this resource can be harnessed in a way that makes economic, environmental and social sense." Shorrock added.

"Tidal lagoons offer renewable energy at nuclear scale and thus the investment of hundreds of millions of pounds in UK industries and coastal communities.
"Our intention is to supply 10% of the UK’s domestic electricity by building at least five full-scale tidal lagoons in UK waters by 2023, before the UK sees any generation from new nuclear."

TLP has spent three years in developing its proof-of-concept project with a consortium of industrial businesses including Atkins, Costain, GE, Alstom, Andritz and Voith.

The Tidal Lagoon project will also include the native oyster into SwanseaBay, an offshore building including visitor and education facilities, and a national triathlon and watersports centre.

Once approved, construction of the SwanseaBay lagoon will start in the first half of 2015, with first power being generated in 2018.