Lagoon Power

[d000hg]

BBC News - World's first lagoon power plants unveiled in UK

I hadn't heard of this one before and in principle it seems a neat idea - like a hydroelectric dam but filled by the ocean.

But is it a loony scheme or does it make sense? Clearly your tidal range makes a big difference how much energy you can get per square meter and you lose power at slack water which is a problem but maybe one that can be addressed in the design?

[FatLazyContractor]

There are more pleasurable ways of generating power, it seems.

[VectraMan]

To some extent they can choose when to generate the power. E.g. not let any water out whilst the tide is going out, then open the gates when it's needed the most.

It seems like this might actually improve the environment, in as much as making the beaches nicer and having a big lagoon for water sports and bird life. Though anglers are moaning about the turbines killing the fish they want to kill. As always the amount of power seems a bit pathetic: £1bn investment to provide for 155,000 homes (just homes, not industry, schools, hospitals etc.), which I guess just about covers Swansea.

[vetran]

It says the series of six lagoons could generate 8% of the UK's electricity for an investment of £30bn.

First is comparable with offshore wind or Solar farms. Its nice dependable instant power so your kettle will boil after Eastenders.

Cardiff costs the same as onshore wind and you get a nice bay for watersports.

Cost of electricity by source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[tractor]

...

You could build one in the Thames Estuary, cover it over and get a free airport.

[vetran]

You could build one in the Thames Estuary, cover it over and get a free airport.

we could call it 'The Boris Barrier'.

not entirely a stupid idea (unless you are a wetland bird).

[VectraMan]

Ah. So muggins pays yet again.

Who do you think should pay for our electricity?

[NotAllThere]

According to the BBC this morning - it costs the same as a nuclear power plant and is much safer. Or, as I heard it - it costs the same as a nuclear power plant and is even safer.

[BlasterBates]

Who do you think should pay for our electricity?

People who support green policies.

High time that the "green community" fund their own green projects.

I'm quite happy with coal fired stations. They're environmentally more friendly then contraptions that will end up as rusty white elephants.

[pjclarke]

People who support green policies.

High time that the "green community" fund their own green projects.

I'm quite happy with coal fired stations. They're environmentally more friendly then contraptions that will end up as rusty white elephants.

And I'd be quite happy if coal paid it's way. One third of premature deaths related to air pollution is due to coal, around 1 million people worldwide annually. Indeed electricity from coal would double in price if the industry had to pay for all the externalities - damage to the environment and human health by particulates, N Oxides, Chromium and arsenic (and that excludes coal's contribution to AGW).


Apologies, I know facts aren't really your thing.