Solway Energy Gateway

Marine Conservation Zone possibilities

2009-11-13T11:06:00.001-08:00

Will the sea floor occupied by the windfarms also be developed as marine habitats? Clearly, as fishing is not permitted there will this area count as a MCZ? Any barrage/tidal energy scheme should ideally incorporate a (major) road. Not only will this create industry opportunities in Dumfries and Galloway but, extended down to and across Morecambe Bay will open up the Fylde Coast similarly. Jim Mitchell

Calendar Mastered

2009-11-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

At last after 2 weeks I have (I think) mastered the google calendar sync... I have lost though my own grandchildrens' birth dates in my own calendar ..... umm - up a ladder down a snake

Cumbria – The Energy Coast

2009-10-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Cumbria – The Energy Coast

On Friday I discovered a piece of Cumbria where you cannot see a windmill. It's in a dip in the road surrounded by high hedges. The road is a lane really between Pica and Rowrah (more on pronunciation of these place names later*).
It has just struck me that on the drive down the coast from Carlisle to Whitehaven there isn't a place (apart from the Rowrah Pica interchange) where windmills are not visible.

I'm all in favour of energy from the wind so I suppose I will just have to put up with the high visual impact. I quite like the look of windmills though, there's something quite pleasing about them compared to a coal fired power station or a nuclear one for that matter. In fact compared to the mining scars of the villages that are Rowrah and Pica they are positively beautiful.

*Pica – pronounced: PIE – KUH

Rowrah - pronounced: ROW (as in having an argument – not Boat) – RUH

I recently discovered that the PICA environs has decoy buildings dating back to the 2nd World War designed to trick enemy bombers in to not dropping their loads on Workington. Pity!

Infrastructure change ?will fast-track planning? - Times Online

2009-10-01T14:36:00.001-07:00

Infrastructure change ?will fast-track planning? - Times Online

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Frequently Asked Question 2: Is it a barrage?

2009-09-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Frequently Asked Question 2: Is it a barrage?
Answer: We don't think so.
A barrage used as a total containment of the estuary from the line Annan to Bowness would be detrimental and not acceptable. There is a tendency to use the word 'barrage' in a generic way thus confusing and distracting everybody from finding a renewable energy solution based on the harnessing of the tides.

The ultimate solution is most likely to be a partial barrage or fence or reef - commonly called low-head devices, or devices that sit in the tidal stream.

All of this will be brought out in the technical feasibility stage.

Frequently Asked Questions 1: Time Scale?

2009-09-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

Question 1: What is the Time Scale?

Answer: The intended time line is as follows

June – November 2009: Technical feasibility study .
Identify and make initial approaches to potential funding, development and technology partners.
Seek opportunities for development funding.
Ongoing engagement with stakeholders
2010 to 2013: If the 1st Technical Feasibility study allows, move to a Full Feasibility Study-
Full range of environmental, social and economic impact studies undertaken
Technology and development funding streams identified and secured. Contractors / Developers identified and contracts drawn up.
Design and outline planning for all project aspects
Project funding streams identified and agreed
Extensive stakeholder engagement
Resource, supply chain identification
New regional branding strategy explored and developed
Grid connection agreement
Crown Estate and relevant land owner provisional agreements
Provisional development vehicle and structure formalised
Connectivity issues identified and resolved
Special interest stakeholder groups formed to feed into development
2013 to 2014: If previous stage is positive go to Planning
Planning and consents sought. CPO orders. Agreements signed
Community and Interest Groups feed in
Supply chain geared up
Recruitment of necessary construction personnel
2014 to 2016: Construction
Project build
Connectivity links made
Regional branding and promotion
2016 to 2017: Commissioning

Question raised by Dave Betka

2009-08-28T01:15:00.000-07:00

Q) Has anyone carried out a study to discover what possible impact rising sea levels in the next 100 years will have on the tidal flow around the British Isles. Would the tidal ebb and flow be more aggressive than it is a present e.g. if the sea level were to rise by 1m, would sea level at low tide and high tide both be 1m higher than they are now or will the moon have a bigger impact on more water and speed things up a bit?
A) - from Prof Richard Burrows of Liverpool Uni:
Water levels fluctuate over the same range but about the new water level in the coastal waters.
There are likely to be further changes in the estuaries where the tide becomes asymmetric; Our computational studies show only a very small change in tidal magnitudes around the coast from a ~0.8m increase in sea levels

Tidal barrage across Solway can power all of Cumbria

2009-08-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

Tidal barrage across Solway can power all of Cumbria
A government energy expert has indicated that a tidal barrage across the Solway from Anthorn would power the whole of Cumbria.
After Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) chose to commission a £100,000 feasibility study looking into tidal energy options on the Solway Firth, Joe Flanagan, head of energy at the Agency, said that a barrage would produce enough electricity for 300,000 homes.
Flanagan, according to The Cumberland News, said that the study will be much wider than just a barrage.
“We will consider all kinds of tidal energy technologies and not just in this area but out to the Irish Sea. Any scheme will have an environmental and social impact. The barrage would be the most efficient but clearly it would also have the biggest environmental impact,” he said.
Located on the border between Scotland and England, the Firth is estimated to hold up to 180MW of tidal power, and the NWDA is actively promoting the possibility of building a tidal barrage between Bowness in Cumbria and Annan in Dumfries.
The concept of the Solway Energy Gateway is being actively promoted and seeks to extract energy from the Solway Firth by means of a tidal range barrage located between Bowness and Annan. The study will be carried out by a consortium led by the Halcrow Group Limited.

Position at September 2008

2009-08-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

Present Position:
A desktop environmental impact assessment was completed in August 2007 by the Environment Centre, Lancaster University, relating to two of the proposed developments. Also a desktop feasibility study relating to the extraction of tidal power from the Solway was carried out by the Engineering Dept, University of Liverpool.
A PhD is currently being run by University of Liverpool around the SEG proposal
A unique Scottish – English cross border meeting was held 25th September specifically to look at the possibilities of taking forward the Solway Energy Gateway proposal which would have significant affects both sides of the border.
Those attending the meeting were at a senior level.
The meeting concluded that there was a keen interest from all those present to look at taking the proposal to the next level. A pivotal part of the next step was early engagement with environmental groups who had legislative powers and were key advisors to Government. The meeting wanted to have a full understanding from the environmental partners as to what would be considered 'showstoppers' from the possible development options.
The meeting also requested a clear understanding of the full legislative and planning process that would need to be undertaken on both sides of the border and whether or not one process could satisfy both parties.
The meeting also requested full information on the current economic impact of the Solway.
The above points are to be reported back to a follow-up cross border meeting to be held on 12th December.
Consideration will be given to the funding of a feasibility study which will include a full environmental impact assessment, geological survey, social and economic impact study, power extraction and engineering studies. This would be expected to take two years to complete.
Although apart from the initial press interest a relatively low profile has been kept around the proposal but there appears to be broad community support from those aware of the proposal.
All relevant politicians are aware of the proposal and have expressed support.
The NDA have also expressed support for the proposal.