Reacting to the news that the Sustainable Development Commission has endorsed plans for a tidal barrage across the Severn estuary, Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said:
“Tidal power can provide the UK with a tremendous amount of energy along with other marine renewables like wave power. And, importantly, it can do so without creating dangerous climate change emissions or nuclear waste. The Severn barrage could be a huge resource of carbon free energy, but the jury’s still out on the best way to reap the tidal power of the river without having huge environmental impacts on wading birds. Offshore wind, as a cheaper option, should also be much higher up the government's priority list. The UK has about 40% of Europe's wind resource which could be harnessed to meet our demand for energy. For example the London Array, in the Thames estuary, will supply 750,000 homes in London at a cost of around £1.5 billion."
The SDC says the project should meet "tough" environmental conditions and remain in public ownership. The barrage, it says, should have to prove its green credentials by complying with legislation protecting the estuary.
The commission estimated the cost of the project at £14bn. It is estimated that the proposed barrage would generate between 5-10% of the UK’s electricity.
For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 0207 865 8255.
