Welsh Liberal Democrats make Swansea tidal lagoon pledge

 
Welsh Liberal Democrats said on Thursday they would give an immediate go-ahead for the construction of the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon and start plans for a program of tidal lagoons in the UK.

The pledge was made during party’s general election campaign launch event in Wales, on May 11, 2017. Liberal Democrats said that a program of tidal lagoons, including those at Cardiff, Colwyn Bay, and Newport, would create over 34,000 jobs in Wales alone and opportunities for hundreds of businesses in the supply chain.

Ed Davey, Former Energy Secretary and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Kingston and Surbiton, said: “It’s a disgrace that the Conservatives have refused to commit to giving Swansea Bay the go-ahead, when the case for it is clear. Even their own commissioned report said it should proceed, yet they have remained silent.

“Liberal Democrats would go ahead immediately with the lagoon at Swansea Bay and start planning for further lagoons in Wales and other parts of the UK.”

Tidal Lagoon Power, the developer behind the proposed £1.3 billion Swansea Bay tidal lagoon, is still awaiting a subsidy agreement with the UK government, despite having been backed earlier this year by the independent review into the viability of tidal lagoon industry.

The review, conducted by Charles Hendry, found that tidal lagoons can help UK deliver security of electricity supply and its decarbonization commitments, and bring real and substantial opportunities for the UK supply chain.

Aside from the Hendry review, the UK government has also been repeatedly called to approve the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon by both the industry and the politicians.

Swansea Bay tidal lagoon has a design life of 120 years, with an annual net power output of 400GWh.

This is enough to provide clean electricity to around 155,000 Welsh households, according to Tidal Lagoon Power.