Photo credit: Kenneth Cross & Unsplash
The architect behind the London Eye has unveiled an £11bn proposal for a massive tidal power station off the Somerset coast, designed to help meet the UK’s burgeoning electricity demand from the artificial intelligence sector. As reported by the Guardian, the project, known as the West Somerset Lagoon, would see a 14-mile (22km) concrete embankment built in a semi-circular arc between Minehead and Watchet.
The vision has been developed by a consortium including Julia Barfield, managing director of Marks Barfield Architects. Speaking about the environmental necessity of the project, Ms. Barfield stated that if the UK continues to adopt more AI, “it is going to be better with a renewable energy source.” The project aims to harness the Bristol Channel’s tidal range—the second highest in the world—using 125 underwater turbines to generate a maximum output of 2.5GW. According to the project’s official website, the lagoon would have a lifespan of over 120 years, potentially producing electricity more cheaply than nuclear plants over its operational life.
This proposal arrives after decades of fluctuating political support for tidal range technology. A landmark 2007 report by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) highlighted the UK’s “significant tidal resource,” suggesting it could provide 10% of the nation’s electricity. However, the SDC also warned that earlier “barrage” designs across the entire Severn Estuary would cause “the loss of up to 75% of the existing intertidal habitat,” a concern that the newer “lagoon” models seek to mitigate by sitting away from the main river channels.
The most significant predecessor, the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, was granted development consent in 2015. Despite a positive independent review by Charles Hendry in 2017, which called the project a “no-regrets option” and a vital “pathfinder” for the industry, the government ultimately rejected the deal on “value for money” grounds. Officials argued the “strike price” for its electricity was too high compared to falling costs for offshore wind.
Renewed momentum for the technology has been fuelled by the Western Gateway’s Severn Estuary Commission, which was established in 2024 to re-examine the case for tidal energy in light of the climate emergency. Its final 2025 recommendations concluded that tidal range is now “feasible and supportive” of national energy security, particularly as technological improvements have lowered potential environmental and financial barriers.
The West Somerset Lagoon proposal includes significant infrastructure for the local community and tourism. Plans feature an “iconic” pathway for walkers and cyclists along the top of the barrage, a water-sports marina, and an observation tower. Local MP Rachel Gilmour, who is backing the plan, stated that the project is “not just about generating energy, it’s also about the huge positive impact it can have on an area of deprivation.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated that the government is “open to considering well-developed proposals” for tidal energy that demonstrate value for money. Aidan Clegg, chief executive of the consortium, emphasised that the plan is “not hypothetical” and that investors are ready to move forward once official support is secured.