Tidal Lagoon Power denies design problems

Firm defends its plans to harness tides at Swansea Bay and insists doubts have been addressed

The firm behind the  £1 billion Swansea tidal lagoon project has insisted there are no engineering problems with its plans, despite doubts being raised.

Tidal Lagoon Power, which is based in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, is aiming to generate a net annual output of more than 500GWh with its lagoon – enough to power 155,000 homes. 

Construction of the lagoon is planned to begin early next year, with first power planned for 2021.

However, several "tidal experts" spoken to by the BBC have raised concerns about the viability of the lagoon project. Retired mechanical engineer Roger Griffiths, who is based in Swansea, believes that more testing of the turbines in the right conditions is needed to ensure they will work efficiently. 

The doubts arise just one day after Prime Minister David Cameron admitted his enthusiasm for tidal has been reduced as the UK government tries to agree a subsidy. He said: “All these theoretical estimates are fine but they're guessing - intelligent guessing - about the efficiencies of these turbines.”

Cameron also hinted at a possible change of heart towards the lagoon because of the high costs involved while giving evidence to a Parliamentary Committee,

In response to Cameron’s comments, Tidal Lagoon Power, said: "The prime minister is spot on: tidal power will make a huge contribution to the UK economy, carrying with it a wide range of social and environmental benefits.

“Clearly there is a price at which this prospect becomes viable and through our ongoing negotiation with government we are very confident that we can hit that price.”

Tidal Lagoon Power told PE: “The Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon is a world-first that employs proven technology in a new way.

"The project has been awarded a Development Consent Order and its design has been validated through independent technical adjudication on behalf of government and on behalf of the investors who are backing it. We are working in partnership with respected organisations in the fields of global engineering, industry and construction to prepare the project for delivery."

In November it was announced that the Swansea Bay project had been delayed a year to 2017 because of negotiations with the Department for Energy and Climate Change over the level of subsidies given to the project via the contract for difference support mechanism.