Eight hundred jobs could be created by tidal power scheme

Feb 5 2010 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Friday

EIGHT HUNDRED jobs could be created if the Solway Firth was turned into a major source of tidal power.

But a huge £16 billion construction cost and low return could stand in its way.

That’s the conclusion of a feasibility study into creating a barrage which could also become a multi-million pound money-spinner for the local economy – attracting up to 200,000 tourists a year.

Known as the Solway Energy Gateway, it would effectively be a huge dam which would use the power of water to create electricity.

It would also link Dumfries and Galloway with Cumbria in the form of a roadway.

Cumbrian businessman Nigel Catterson is the leading light behind the scheme and yesterday presented the report to the Solway Firth Partnership conference in Dumfries’ Easterbrook Hall.

Anything up to 6MW of energy could be produced by the barrage and the report looks at nine potential sites spanning the Solway.

The most likely one would follow the site of an old viaduct between Annan and Bowness on Solway.

The cost has been pegged at £16 billion and, according to the report, that may prove to be its biggest obstacle.

It states: “The high level of risk associated with planning, construction and operation inherent in these developments increase cost and reduce investor confidence.”

It adds that the “difficulty is in unifying the high risks of development with agreement on a low return on investment.

“This is unlikely without some form of intervention.”

The report, written by Glasgow-based planning consultants Halcrow, says further investigation would be needed to try and narrow down the costs and the risk associated with it.

It goes on: “Taking a socio-economic benefit viewpoint, a typical scheme would generate around 800 jobs during construction (variable depending on project scale).

“In addition, a large scale project could have tourism potential equivalent to up to 200,000 visitors per annum with associated revenue generated in the region.”

Concerns are however raised over the environmental impact which the report states is “unavoidable due to the sensitivity of the area”.

The report recommends looking further at the environmental impact as well as the costs.

It states: “The unique development will also result in significant investment and job creation in the region, as well as providing opportunities for niche skill and knowledge development.

“There are options available that could satisfy a 2020 deadline, however, the timescale for implementation depends heavily upon developing a scheme that satisfies a planning process that is complicated by cross border legislative differences.

“Achieving consent depends on adequately addressing all the technical, financial and environmental constraints.”