Department of Energy and Climate Change
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New fund open to take Severn Estuary tidal concepts from the drawing board
A new £500,000 fund will be launched today to help environmental entrepreneurs and small businesses develop their ideas to generate electricity from the River Severn's tidal power.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O'Brien and Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister Jane Davidson today announced details of the Severn Embryonic Technologies Scheme to further develop proposals like tidal reefs and fences and other potential ideas.
The fund will open to bidders today, when Ministers meet to discuss it with potential applicants in Bristol.
The tides in the Severn estuary are among the highest in the world and have the potential to deliver some 5% of the UK's electricity from a domestic, low carbon and sustainable source.
A public consultation is underway on a proposed shortlist of schemes to generate clean, green electricity from the power of the tides in the Severn estuary. The shortlist includes a mixture of barrages and lagoon schemes. The Government has made clear it will consider the progress of embryonic technologies before any decisions are taken on whether to support a Severn tidal power scheme.
The £500,000 scheme is being managed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Welsh Assembly Government, Defra, and the South West of England Regional Development Agency.
Energy and Climate Change Minister, Mike O'Brien said:
"This funding will help us understand the potential of these emerging ideas and whether, and how long, we would have to wait for them to come to fruition.
"The Severn estuary has massive potential to help achieve our climate change and renewable energy targets. So far our consultation on a proposed shortlist of five schemes has received over 400 responses.
"As well as this shortlist, I am keen to keep innovative options on the table. That's why we are inviting companies to bid for a share of the funds to accelerate progress."
Welsh Assembly Government Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson said:
"I am pleased that the Welsh Assembly Government is working with other government departments to lead the global research on embryonic tidal technologies while making progress with the second phase of the feasibility study into Severn Tidal Power options.
"Our hope is that that some of these new technologies will show promise for harnessing tidal energy with minimal environmental impact, in the Severn Estuary or elsewhere around our coast. The potential benefits could be shared across the world.
"They could help reduce our carbon footprint, improve our energy security and create green jobs. We want to encourage companies involved with marine technology to apply for access to this fund to help demonstrate the potential of innovative technologies."
Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, said:
"Many of the impacts of climate change will be felt by nature and if we fail to act then the effects on the environment and wildlife, including the birds and animals of the Severn Estuary, could be very serious.
"But we need to make the shift to renewable energy in a way which takes account of the impacts on wildlife and the local environment, which is why this initiative will play an important part in deciding the best way forward."
Claire Gibson, Director of Sustainable Resources at the South West RDA, said:
"The South West is already home to some of the world's leading companies in tidal stream technology. We want to create an innovative culture which will place the region at the forefront of the marine renewable energy sector, and we therefore encourage businesses with early stage concepts to get involved, to discuss how we can all work together to make the most of this huge untapped resource in the Severn."
Notes to editors:
1. Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O'Brien and Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister Jane Davidson are in Bristol to meet with potential applications of the scheme and inform them of how they can apply for funding.
2. The £500,000 Scheme is designed to deliver:
* a support package which will comprise expert advice and grants. The scheme is designed to offer a flexible range of support so that both small and larger organisations can benefit from it;
* an assessment of potential in terms of technical feasibility and environmental and other impacts, and
* a route map to deployment for promising technologies.
3. The fund is open to new proposals as well as those submitted to the feasibility study in response to last summer's call for proposals. The closing date for bids is 1 May 2009. Full information is available on the DECC website at http://severntidalpowerconsultation.decc.gov.uk/news
4. Details of how applicants can apply will be available to download from the Severn Tidal Power Consultation website - http://severntidalpowerconsultation.decc.gov.uk/supporting_documents
5. Successful proposals will be those that meet the key criteria (including low environmental impact and low energy cost). A cross-governmental Programme Board will assess each proposal against this criteria. Assistance will be given to successful applicants to help them identify the key areas of their proposal that need further development.
6. For further information on the Severn Tidal Power Consultation please go to http://severntidalpowerconsultation.decc.gov.uk/
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