Study backs project to build Britain's first tidal lagoon off coast of Wales

Plans for what would be Britain's first tidal lagoon won backing Thursday in an independent government-commissioned study.

The 1.6 billion-U.S.dollar project would see a tidal lagoon built in Swansea Bay off the coast of Wales.

Former government energy minister Charles Hendry recommended the scheme following a year long independent review into the viability of the renewable energy technology.

He wants to see the building of the Swansea Bay lagoon to capture energy from the sea.

The project would involve 16 turbines along a breakwater and is being seen as a prototype for much larger lagoons. The hope is the scheme will lead to the development of even larger lagoons around the coast of Britain.

There have been calls for many years for Britain to harness the sea power around its coastline as a way of generating green energy.

Hendry said unlike barrages, the proposed lagoons do not block the mouth of a river.

He said: "We know it absolutely works. One of the great advantages is it is completely predictable for all time to come. We know exactly when the spring tides and neap tides are going to be every single day for the rest of time."

An even bigger tidal lagoon in Cardiff Bay, costing 10 billion U.S.dollars, would generate enough electricity to power every home in Wales, said the company behind the project Tidal Lagoon Power (TLP).

TLP's Mark Shorrock said: "Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon is a vision of how Great Britain can replace part of our aging power station fleet with low cost, reliable power that also revitalizes our industrial heartlands and coastal communities. Endit