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The tides are a national resource of free, non polluting energy indefinitely available. This can be harnessed using proven hydro-electric technology and established North Sea construction methods in collaboration with the National Engineering Laboratory and Seven Seas Partners.

As a source of water power, a tidal barrage could complement all thermal plant generating when required to match the steady output economically suited to thermal plant operations. Mainly, the UK is committed to intermittent thermal generation hence to penalties of cost and energy wastage.

Energy storage is the key to good thermal plant generation and water can provide storage at high efficiency. Suitably designed the Severn Barrage would convert tidal energy when available together with electricity from thermal stations otherwise run down at night into a resource available in constant or irregular amounts by day. Its siting close to existing or new thermal stations with transmission links would be exceedingly beneficial.

The Severn Barrage could meet up to 20% of present demands though 10% (400MW) may have particular merit and would require and embankment in the region of Cardiff to Weston-super-Mare. The ‘energy in place’ when valued at retail prices which rise considerably as oil and gas prices increase over time. This would provide collateral for funding the project during construction,

By not harnessing the daily supply of tidal energy this resource is lost and ensuring conservation of other fuels will become increasingly important in the future.

Energetically promoted now, the Severn Barrage could be operating before 1990 thus supplementing generating capacity when oil and gas are depleting and ever more electricity is needed for ‘data storage’. Other renewables like Solar and Wind Power are inherently unpredictable making storage essential such as the Severn Barrage would provide.