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IT Power is leading the Severn Tidal Fence Consortium (STFC) which is being contracted by the Government to investigate the feasibility of a Tidal Fence across the Severn Estuary. This is part of the Severn Embryonic Technology Scheme (SETS), announced today by DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change).
The SETS £500,000 cross-government fund is designed to stimulate and explore the potential for a reduced impact on the natural environment of conventional tidal technologies for energy generation – such as the proposed Severn Barrage.
The Severn Tidal Fence is a line of underwater tidal current turbines installed in such a way as to force the maximum flow through the turbines. Unlike a Barrage, the Fence is a porous structure and does not completely obstruct flow through the estuary. Two sites are being considered, an Outer Fence from Aberthaw to Minehead and an Inner Fence, 9 km in length in three 3km sections, passing near to the estuary’s two main islands. Costing an estimated £3.5bn the Outer Fence would have a capacity of 1.3GW – more than Sizewell B nuclear power station.
The STF Consortium is headed by IT Power. CleanTechCom has brought additional co-financing to the study, which will be supported by technical expertise from Marubeni (Europe), Metoc, NaREC, BMT Fleet Technology, Edinburgh University, and Sigma Offshore.
Jamie O’Nians, IT Power’s Ocean Group Manager in Bristol, says “We are excited to be leading such an important project. The environmental and navigational benefits such a scheme offer could be significant and at the same time the tidal stream generators that could be deployed will be given a technological lift if the Tidal Fence is developed. The potential applies not only to the Severn but also other sites around the country and overseas.”
