Strong tides along UK coast could create electricity for less than cost of nuclear power

The strong tides along Britain's west coast could produce huge amounts of clean electricity for less than the cost of nuclear power.

The UK has the second biggest tides in the world after Canada.
Tides peak in the Bristol Channel, and along the coast of north Wales and northwest England.

According to experts, a network of seven tidal power plants could be built by 2030. These could generate enough electricity for more than four million homes.

In addition, the power would be far more predictable than other renewable sources such as wind and solar. This is because tide times are known far into the future.

Longevity

Professor Roger Falconer is a leading consultant in water and environmental engineering.

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Reactor, just up the coast, has cost £26bn to build so far. However, the tidal lagoon project would cost just £8.5bn.

"Yet while the west Somerset lagoon would last for 120 years, a nuclear reactor will only last 60 years," said Prof Falconer.

"And then you have radioactive waste that needs to be managed for many centuries into the future."

He said governments are put off tidal energy by the upfront cost. However, by using the same funding mechanisms that are used for nuclear projects, the cost would be around £74 per megawatt-hour (MWh).

By comparison, the price of electricity generated at Hinkley Point C was set at £92.50 per MWh in 2012.

"We desperately need to do something," said Prof Falconer.

Excellent Value

There is so far only one tidal range power plant in Europe, run by EDF at the Rance river in northern France.

Turbines are built into a dam that stretches across the estuary, producing enough electricity for 220,000 people.

The structure was built in 1966, for a cost of almost £1bn in today's money.

But François Régis Chevreau, the director of the plant, said it was excellent value.

"Yes, it cost a lot to build such a plant," he said.

"But we produce around 15% of the electricity that Brittany uses in a year.

"And as we will use it for decades, maybe for centuries, we will get the money back."

The fourth round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has seen the first-ever tidal stream auction winners. They will together generate over 40MW of clean power from tides for British homes and businesses.

First Step

Responding to the news that the latest renewables auction has delivered over 40MW of tidal stream projects, Sue Barr, chair of the UK Marine Energy Council, said:  “Today’s results represent an important first step in realizing tidal stream’s potential in supporting a secure, cost-effective, and fair transition to net zero.

“The UK has tremendous tidal resource and could provide 11% of the UK’s electricity demand.

“Tidal stream is forecast to be cheaper than new nuclear at the point of 1GW of deployment, supports the UK creating sustainable jobs and supply chains in coastal communities and beyond, whilst boosting energy security through an entirely predictable baseload renewable energy resource.”

Sue Barr, chair of the UK Marine Energy Council, said:

“Today’s results represent an important first step in realizing tidal stream’s potential in supporting a secure, cost-effective, and fair transition to net zero.

“The UK has tremendous tidal resource and could provide 11% of the UK’s electricity demand.

“Tidal stream is forecast to be cheaper than new nuclear at the point of 1GW of deployment, supports the UK creating sustainable jobs and supply chains in coastal communities and beyond, whilst boosting energy security through an entirely predictable baseload renewable energy resource.”