UK Energy Secretary, John Hutton, has announced the Government is to carry out a feasibility study into using the Severn Estuary to generate tidal power.

The Government is to carry out a feasibility study to assess whether the River Severn could be used to generate tidal power.

The Severn Estuary is one of the largest estuaries in the UK and has the second highest tidal range in the world. Power could potentially be generated by using a barrage to impound a large volume of water on the high tide, which is then passed through turbines once a height difference is created by the changing tides.

It is anticipated that such a project could generate around 5% of the UK’s renewable energy – which will contribute to the UK Government’s recommendation that 15% of electricity by 2015 should come from renewable sources. This figure is expected to be announced by the Government shortly.

John Hutton, the UK’s Energy Secretary, said: “The potential scale of this project, and the impact it could have for both securing energy supplies and tackling climate change is breathtaking. The Severn Estuary has some of the best tidal potential in the world and could more than double the current UK supply of renewable electricity, and contribute significantly to targets for renewable energy and CO2 emissions reduction.

“We must understand the cost and the impact that a project of this scale could have, not least the environmental, social and economic effects. But the need to take radical steps to tackle climate change is now beyond doubt. Tough choices need to be made. We must consider all our low carbon energy options.”

The feasibility study will last around two years and will end with a public consultation in 2010.