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| Tidal lagoon energy review to give 'clarity' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An independent review of tidal lagoon energy will examine its feasibility, the UK government has said, amid delays to a £1bn project in Swansea. | An independent review of tidal lagoon energy will examine its feasibility, the UK government has said, amid delays to a £1bn project in Swansea. |
| Backers have warned the scheme could be at risk unless ministers agree the level of subsidy within weeks. | Backers have warned the scheme could be at risk unless ministers agree the level of subsidy within weeks. |
| David Cameron fuelled fears in January when he said his enthusiasm for tidal energy was "reducing". | David Cameron fuelled fears in January when he said his enthusiasm for tidal energy was "reducing". |
| Ministers said a decision on the lagoon was expected in the autumn, after the review was published. | |
| Announcing the review on Wednesday, Energy Minister Lord Bourne said it was an "exciting, but as yet an untested technology". | |
| The Swansea lagoon would be the first of six around Britain's coastline, which it is claimed could generate 8% of the UK's electricity, with a life cycle of 120 years. | The Swansea lagoon would be the first of six around Britain's coastline, which it is claimed could generate 8% of the UK's electricity, with a life cycle of 120 years. |
| Building work on the lagoon in Swansea has already been delayed by a year, after negotiations stalled over how much public money it would need. | Building work on the lagoon in Swansea has already been delayed by a year, after negotiations stalled over how much public money it would need. |
| 'Clarity' | 'Clarity' |
| "I want to better understand whether tidal lagoons can be cost effective, and what their impact on bills will be - both today and in the longer term," Lord Bourne said on Wednesday. | "I want to better understand whether tidal lagoons can be cost effective, and what their impact on bills will be - both today and in the longer term," Lord Bourne said on Wednesday. |
| "This review will help give us that clarity so we can determine what role tidal lagoons could have as part of our plans to provide secure, clean and affordable energy for families and businesses across the country." | "This review will help give us that clarity so we can determine what role tidal lagoons could have as part of our plans to provide secure, clean and affordable energy for families and businesses across the country." |
| The review, to start in spring, will look at: | The review, to start in spring, will look at: |
| Mark Shorrock, chief executive of Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay, welcomed the review as "a huge step" from the UK government and "a clear signal that it sees potential advantage for the UK energy consumer in very long-dated tidal energy infrastructure assets". | Mark Shorrock, chief executive of Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay, welcomed the review as "a huge step" from the UK government and "a clear signal that it sees potential advantage for the UK energy consumer in very long-dated tidal energy infrastructure assets". |
| But he urged ministers not to let the review delay any deal on the Swansea project, which he said was needed within six weeks. | But he urged ministers not to let the review delay any deal on the Swansea project, which he said was needed within six weeks. |
| "To unlock the potential of tidal lagoon power, we need investment in a demonstration project that will grow the supply chain and build investor confidence that an exceptionally long term project can go forward in today's UK electricity market," he said. | "To unlock the potential of tidal lagoon power, we need investment in a demonstration project that will grow the supply chain and build investor confidence that an exceptionally long term project can go forward in today's UK electricity market," he said. |
| However, a spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said no final decision would be made until the outcome of the review was made public, with a decision expected by the autumn. | |
| Peter Black, Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales West, claimed the review showed the Conservatives did not care about green energy and were "doing all they can to kick any attempt to grow a new green economy in Wales into the long grass". | Peter Black, Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales West, claimed the review showed the Conservatives did not care about green energy and were "doing all they can to kick any attempt to grow a new green economy in Wales into the long grass". |