It has been widely reported that a new  independent Commission is being set up to assess tidal renewable projects in the Severn Estuary. The assessment of the feasibility of schemes within the estuary is not new – the  Sustainable Development Commission in 2007 released a comprehensive report and ten years later the ‘Hendry Review’ was published. There were also numerous reports and studies before, during and after these.

Now, as reported in WalesOnline: a new commission will look again at whether a barrage or tidal lagoons could be built in the Severn Estuary to generate green energy from the tides.

The estuary has the second largest tidal range in the world and previously-mooted schemes have been estimated to have huge potential to generate renewable electricity. Earlier schemes have never been taken forward, despite expensive feasibility work being done, amid opposition due to the impact on bird life in the Estuary, the impact on the port at Bristol as well as the cost.

The Guardian also reported that: the commission has been set up by the Western Gateway “powerhouse”, a coalition of politicians, business and public sector leaders and academics covering an area stretching from Swansea to Swindon and straddling the Severn, designed to rival the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine. At its inaugural conference, delegates were told a Severn estuary tidal project could provide up to 7% of the UK’s energy needs.

There was further coverage here and here.