Renew On Line (UK) 29a

Extracts from the Jan-Feb 2001 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

6. Welsh Tidal Power

Tidal Electric, the US tidal power development company, has proposed two offshore tidal schemes for Wales - involving the construction of bounded tidal reservoirs to trap high tides. The largest would be at Rhyl off the N Wales coast and would have a generating capacity of 400MW. A smaller 30MW project is also being considered for off the coast near Swansea.

To provide more nearly continuous output, the reservoir of the Rhyl scheme would be subdivided into segments with each being filled and emptied in turn. The reservoirs would be constructed from rocks (30million tonnes for the Rhyl system), like a causeway, so they would not be as expensive as a conventional dam or tidal barrage. As we noted in Renew 117, it’s an ambitious concept - still dependent on obtaining positive environmental assessment and the necessary financial backing. But if the idea went ahead it would represent the largest single renewable energy project in the UK - the Rhyl scheme would be nine miles long and two miles wide. Tidal Electric told the Observer (24/9/00) that, following the currently planned £2m environmental impact study, part funded by the UN, the project could go ahead and be operational by 2003. Sounds a bit optimistic - but equally it sounds like an interesting scheme. Details on http://www.tidalelectric.com