Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust remain cautious about Severn feasibility study
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) has mixed feelings about the government's announcement on the next stage of the Severn tidal power feasibility study.
A shortlist of five projects has been chosen including the most potentially damaging option, the Cardiff-Weston barrage. The government also announced £500k funding for a parallel study to develop innovation within the tidal energy sector. This could include investigating those options not included on the shortlist. WWT hopes such options could deliver comparable energy generation at much less cost to the ecology of the estuary and to the public purse.
Debbie Pain, WWT director of conservation commented: "We have mixed feelings about today's announcement. WWT fully supports sustainable, renewable energy. However, we would have felt more comfortable had government excluded the most damaging option and kept in those options that appear more environmentally benign. They would then be subject to the same level of scrutiny as the barrages and lagoons. However, the announcement of £500,000 funding to develop these promising technologies appears to be a real opportunity to find a solution which does the least damage to the unique habitats of the River Severn.
"WWT is optimistic that a solution exists which can help meet government targets on CO2 reductions without destroying the Severn's unique ecology. And we are fully committed to helping government find that solution. We believe it is imperative that we work together to deliver a secure, low carbon energy future"
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