Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (Rejected)
Swansea Bay, Wales · Proposed (Planning and development from at least 2015, rejected June 2018) [1] [2] · Proposed cost £1.3 billion [1]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe project was rejected by the UK government primarily due to concerns over its high cost and value for money for taxpayers, despite a government-commissioned review recommending it. This decision highlighted the significant financial hurdles for large-scale tidal power projects. [1] [2]
Key engineering challenges
Construction of a 9.5 km seawall in a dynamic tidal environment. [3] - Integrating tidal turbines for efficient power generation. [3] - Managing potential environmental impacts on the marine ecosystem and local habitats.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Tidal Lagoon (Swansea Bay) plc
- Lead contractor
- Not applicable (project rejected)
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- new build (rejected)
- Scale
- Proposed to generate 572 GWh per year. [4]
- Disciplines
- civil; marine; electrical; environmental; project management
- Standards & frameworks
- UK planning and environmental regulations.
Sources: The Guardian: Government rejects plan for £1.3bn tidal lagoon in Swansea (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jun/25/government-rejects-plan-for-tidal-lagoon-in-swansea) [1] - Tethys: Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon (SBTL) (https://tethys.pnnl.gov/project-sites/swansea-bay-tidal-lagoon-sbtl) [2] - Harvard GSD: Swansea Bay Lagoon Tidal Power (https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/project/swansea-bay-lagoon-tidal-power-and-climate-change/) [3] - Parliament UK: SWANSEA BAY TIDAL LAGOON Contract for Difference Offer (https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-committees/business-energy-and-industrial-strategy/Correspondence/CfD-Submission-Offer-04-12-15-17-19.pdf) [4]