Charles Hendry, the chairman of the British Institute of Energy Economics, has been asked by the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to lead an independent review into the feasibility and practicality of tidal lagoon energy.
The review will cover an assessment of whether, and in what circumstances, tidal lagoons could play a cost effective role as part of the UK energy mix, the potential scale of opportunity in the UK and internationally, including supply chain opportunities, a range of possible structures for financing tidal lagoons, different sizes of projects as the first of a kind, and whether a competitive framework could be put in place for the delivery of tidal lagoon projects.
He has therefore issued a call for evidence, to be supplied by 31 July 2016, about potential sites, developers and opportunities, and the feasibility and practicalities of a wider UK tidal lagoon programme including, but not limited to, environmental and grid issues, navigation and ports impacts, supply chain and export opportunities and financing arrangements. He includes in his call Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd, the proposed developers of Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and currently in financing discussions with government, which he believes could provided evidence about the costs, benefits and opportunities of tidal lagoons.
Written evidence should be submitted by 31 July 2016 by email in the first instance to the Review’s address which is: info@OP1.PSN360.FCOS.GSI.GOV.UK
