UK set for man-made lagoon plants

expat network

UK set for man-made lagoon plants

UK is set to have the first ever man-made lagoon power plants. Four of the six structures are to be based in Wales, and one each in Cumbria and Somerset.

Planning work for a £1bn Swansea lagoon has already begun and has been backed by Ed Davey, the UK energy secretary. The walled-in lagoon would extend five miles out from the coast and would be two miles wide (pictured below).

The six lagoons would cost a total of £8bn and would eventually be able to generate 8% of all UK electricity. Projects would be funded by electricity bill payers.

The lagoons will be based in areas with the greatest difference between high and low tide. As the tide comes in, water is built up outside the gates of the lagoon and rushes through the turbines to create electricity. As the tide goes out, the gates are opened to generate power as the water returns to the sea.

Tidal Lagoon Power, the company planning the developments, also wants to build a 90-turbine lagoon in the Severn Estuary between England and Wales. The company says it would have a capacity of between 1,800 and 2,800MW, enough to power every home in Wales, but there is opposition to the plan.

Mark Shorrock, Tidal Lagoon Power’s chief executive, said: “We have the best tidal resource in Europe and the second best worldwide. We now have a sustainable way to make the most of this natural advantage.

“There is still a long way to go and many environmental surveys to undertake but we will work in partnership with all nature conservation bodies so as to understand, avoid, minimise and mitigate any environmental impacts.”

The deadline for planning permission for the projects is 2017. If approved, they should be working by 2022.

Most large turbine components and generators are to be made in Britain and assembled in Wales.

Britain’s first surf lagoon is set to open in Wales later this year.

Source: Global Construction Review

Link: http://tinyurl.com/khcluzw

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.