What benefits would a barrage provide?

The UK Government has made a commitment to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 10% from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. This commitment was made as an ‘Annex I country’ as stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol 3. It is estimated that much of this reduction could be met by the implementation of renewable energy technology 4. Up to 7% of the total UK electricity demand could be provided with clean, renewable energy by a barrage on the Severn alone 2 5.

Use of North Sea petroleum and natural gas deposits are unsustainable. The UK is predicted to be a net importer of gas by 2006 and oil by around 2010 4. After this period, the UK would no longer be self-sufficient for natural gas and more dependent for petroleum from imported supplies. The security of UK energy supply is an important consideration when assessing the viability of a large generation system for a plethora of political motivations.

The scheme proposed in 1989 estimated that 200,000 man hours would be necessary to construct the barrage, employing up to 35,000 individuals at peak building phases. Post construction, between 10,000 and 40,000 permanent jobs would be created in the region; spread between South Wales and North Somerset.