Tidal power could supply one third of global electricity needs, according to a new study by Bangor University.
According to the paper, a review of tidal range energy resource and optimizationpublished in the academic journal Renewable Energy, 5792 MWh could be produced by tidal range power plants using lagoons and barrages.
And the paper by researchers at Bangor’s School of Ocean Sciences, estimates that 90% of the resource is distributed across just five countries, including UK and France which possess a “significant share” due to the nature of both countries’ Atlantic shelf.
The review also finds that developing a number of lagoons, like in North Wales and the Severn estuary, could smooth out electricity output by exploiting different tidal peaks around the coast of the UK.
The paper concludes that while there has been “much” commercial and R&D progress in tidal stream energy, tidal range is a more mature technology, with the history of such plants extending back over 50 years.
And the cost tidal lagoon power plants could be reduced by considering other uses, such as by integrating aquaculture.
Lead author, Dr Simon Neill, said: “Geographically, the UK is in an ideal position, containing many regions of large tidal range as a result of the resonant characteristics of this part of the European shelf seas.”
However, Dr Sophie Ward, another of the study’s authors cautioned that while tidal lagoons are likely be less intrusive than estuary spanning barrages they still require careful design and planning to minimize the impact on the local environment.
She said: “With significant global potential for tidal range power plants, we need to closely monitor environmental consequences of extracting energy from the tides, and be cautious of altering natural habitats by building structures and impounding water in lagoons or behind barrages.”
The UK government is currently weighing up whether to provide financial support through a contract for difference to plans for a pilot tidal lagoon project in Swansea Bay, which was backed more than a year ago by ex-energy minister Charles Hendry in a report commissioned by former prime minister David Cameron.