PLANS to create six tidal lagoons across the UK, including two benefiting Newport, have been unveiled today.

Tidal Lagoon Power has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment report for a tidal lagoon between Cardiff and Newport, which looks to be six times bigger than the proposed project in Swansea.

As well as the Cardiff proposals, the company also confirmed that early work is underway relating to the delivery of a separate full-scale UK tidal lagoon at Newport, which would also harness the power of the Severn Estuary.

The Cardiff project will have an installed capacity, dependent on final design, of between 1,800MW and 2,800MW, which would be enough low carbon electricity to power every home in Wales throughout its 120 year life.

It follows the pioneering Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, due to receive a planning decision by June 10.

An Environmental Impact Assessment scoping document for Cardiff seeks comment on all of the survey work proposed to support an eventual planning application for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure project. 

Site selection and feasibility studies for the Cardiff project began in 2011, with a dedicated team established in 2013.

Cumbria, Colwyn Bay and Bridgwater Bay have also been chosen as potential sites for tidal lagoons which together, could help meet 8 per cent of the UK’s total electricity requirement for 120 years.

Mark Shorrock, chief executive of Tidal Lagoon Power, said: "Full-scale tidal lagoon infrastructure gives the UK an opportunity to generate electricity from our amazing tidal range at a cost comparable to fossil fuel or nuclear generation. 

"We have the best tidal resource in Europe and the second best worldwide.  We now have a sustainable way to make the most of this natural advantage.

"We will build on the template established for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, applying the expertise and learning, scaling the UK supply chain and Turbine Assembly Plant, leveraging the institutional investor partnerships we have developed, to deliver a Cardiff Tidal Lagoon capable of working in harmony with nature to supply around 1.5 million UK homes, now and for generations to come, with affordable, reliable, low carbon electricity. 

"There is still a long way to go and many environmental surveys to undertake but we will work in partnership with all nature conservation bodies so as to understand, avoid, minimise and mitigate any environmental impacts."

Tidal Lagoon Power Limited expects to submit a full planning application for Tidal Lagoon Cardiff in 2017, with a decision then expected in 2018. The lagoon will take up to five years to build. 

Commenting on plans unveiled today to generate electricity from a series of tidal lagoons, Friends of the Earth Cymru director Gareth Clubb said: “These are exciting plans. Tidal lagoons could play a significant role in generating the nation’s electricity.

“However, the environmental impact of each project must be carefully assessed before they go ahead.

"A sea change in UK energy policy is urgently needed. If we want to build a prosperous low carbon future we must invest in the UK’s huge clean energy potential, instead of encouraging fracking and other sources of dirty fossil fuels.”