History

• The Bowness to Annan site was originally considered as the crossing point for the M6 motorway in the early 1960’s.
• In 1966 a study was commissioned for an industrial freshwater storage area by the Scottish Office. It was recommended that a barrage be considered utilising siphons to control outflow.
• In the 1980’s following a Government backed study the site was considered to be the most suitable to capture tidal energy, by means of a barrage,
• In the 1990’s the earlier findings were confirmed by a further study into tidal energy capture.
• Following the Carlisle floods in 2005 retired academics Dr Norman Powell and Dr Martyn Dyer-Smith revisited the 1966 study and suggested that the concept of a barrage could provide a suitable flood defense for Carlisle. They suggested that utilising the technology proposed in the study coupled to turbines could produce useful amounts of renewable energy.
• In 2006 the proposal was developed and promoted by Nigel Catterson suggesting that a community driven project could be an effective way forward. Arranging a cross-border meeting between the relevant statutory agencies interest was expressed and a considered and researched proposal called for.
• The succeeding years saw the formation of the project development company, nb21c (social enterprise) Ltd, was formed, latterly leading to Solway Energy Gateway Ltd; lobbying and numerous meetings were held; research was coordinated and undertaken by Lancaster and Liverpool Universities; the Northwest Tidal Energy Group was formed; specific tidal energy capture proposals were examined and detailed information gathered on existing schemes.
• In 2008/9 it was agreed by the NWDA, Scottish Enterprise and the NDA to seek funding for a technical feasibility study with a view to the study being completed by the end of 2009.

nb21c (social enterprise) Ltd (set up to specialise in projects that benefit the community and to promote the building of sound and sustainable working relationships) is examining various models, structures and ways of engagement to enable to take the proposal forward.

Members of the Scottish Parliament fully support the notion of a community benefits company. NWDA, Scottish Enterprise and the NDA support the role of Solway Energy Gateway as a ‘trusted third party’ to help facilitate development of the tidal project, working with local community stakeholders.  
Tidal Power? - Haaf-Net Fishing