ENVIRONMENTAL groups who have previously opposed the proposed Severn Barrage have welcomed new proposals for renewable energy sources at the site.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform yesterday published a list of 10 proposed projects for the site as part of a study to assess the feasibility of the options and the energy potential of the Severn Estuary.

Organisations including Friends of the Earth and Gwent Wildlife Trust have long been against plans for a fixed Severn Barrage, which they say would threaten the unique wildlife along the estuary as well as having a damaging effect on fishing industries in the area.

But both groups welcomed the new proposals, which include tidal lagoons and a tidal fence, saying they will have a much less damaging effect on wildlife in the area.

Friends of the Earth energy campaigner and member of the Severn Tidal Strategic Environmental Assessment steering group, Neil Crumpton, said: "There are some exciting tidal projects on the table which could produce as much as 10 per cent of the UK's renewable energy 2020 target in a more cost effective way than the Severn Barrage - and without damaging the environment."

Julian Branscombe chief executive of the Gwent Wildlife Trust said: "We have great concerns about a fixed barrage so we are really pleased that they are looking at all the options."

Rosemary Butler AM for Newport West said the new proposals were positive but expressed some concern over some of the options.

She said: "There are some exciting options here, and I would welcome any project which would provide green energy and jobs for the region."

"However I'm concerned that tidal lagoons would not protect cities like Newport from rising sea levels and tidal surges."

The tidal range of the Severn Estuary is the second largest in the world and has the potential to provide around five per cent of the UK's current electricity demand if proposals go ahead.

Options for Severn tidal energy schemes

  • 1. Outer Barrage from Minehead to Aberthaw: this would be the largest barrage and would make maximum use of the Severn Estuary tidal resource.
  • 2. Middle Barrage from Brean Down to Lavernock Point: most well-studied option, known as the Cardiff-Weston barrage.
  • 3. Middle Barrage from Hinkley to Lavernock Point: as option 2 but lands at Hinkley.
  • 4. Inner Barrage (Shoots Barrage): also known as English Stones scheme and studied in detail by the Sustainable Development Commission.
  • 5. Beachley Barrage: barrage further upstream, smaller generating capacity than Shoots.
  • 6. Tidal Fence proposal: a barrier constructed over part of the Cardiff to Weston line, with open sections, incorporating tidal stream turbines to capture energy from the ebb and flood tides.
  • 7. Lagoon enclosure on the Welsh grounds (Fleming lagoon): one of the previously studied Russell lagoons from 1980s.
  • 8. Tidal lagoon concept: a proposal for a number of tidal lagoons.
  • 9. Tidal reef proposal: a concept that would include floating turbines and caissons.
  • 10. Severn Lake Scheme: a 1 km wide barrage in the same location as the Cardiff-Weston scheme designed to allow the construction of a number of additional features, including a wave farm on the seaward side and four marinas.