Severn Barrage Power Generation study

SEVERN BARRAGE

The barrage would be 16km (10 miles) long
It would power more than 200 turbines
Planners say it could create 35,000 construction jobs and between 10,000 and 40,000 permanent jobs
The barrage could be generating electricity within 11 years, say planners.

"The Severn estuary is one of the UK's most important sites for water birds," said the RSPB's conservation director Mark Avery.

"A barrage would do enormous damage. There could be much better ways of harnessing the Severn's power, and the feasibility study should examine tidal lagoon and tidal stream schemes which could do less damage and generate more energy."

Tidal lagoons are artificially created offshore pools.

Water would flow through turbines in and out of the lagoons as the tide rose and fell. Some analysts say this could generate more power than the barrage with less local environmental disruption.

With the barrage carrying an estimated £14bn price-tag, some believe the lagoon concept would also be cheaper.

However, it could not provide the potential economic side-benefit of a new connection between Wales and southwest England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7013068.stm