Find out more about the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon
Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon
Untapped potential at Swansea Bay
Twice a day, every day, the Atlantic Ocean surges up onto the UK coastline. It is one of the highest tidal ranges in the world – an untapped energy potential. The Swansea Bay tidal range fluctuates an enormous seven to nine metres, making it the perfect spot for the world's first tidal lagoon project. Plans are to create a nearly 10 km causeway that will form an 11.5 km squared lagoon that will help generate power for the city of Swansea.
The project offers more than just a power-producing lagoon, as it will offer long-term jobs, a sporting and recreational area along the waterfront, a marine community farm in the lagoon providing a lobster and oyster hatchery, and a visitor building, at the very centre of the lagoon, where visitors can learn and explore more about tidal power. The entire length of the causeway will be accessible by foot, creating a seascape route for pedestrians. The project is expected to become a major tourist attraction that will draw around 100,000 visitors per year, reinvigorating the Swansea Bay area economy.
How does a tidal lagoon generate power?
A tidal lagoon generates power using two technologies: a breakwater to trap the rising or falling water and the use of hydro-electric turbines. Tidal lagoons act much like a barrage or dam, capturing a large volume of water and then releasing it through turbines to generate electricity. As the tide rises the turbine gates close to trap the water from entering the lagoon. This creates a difference in water level height between the sea and the lagoon.
Once the difference in water levels is optimal, the gates on the turbine open and water begins to flow through, driving the turbines, and into the lagoon. As the turbines turn, electricity is generated. The water level in the lagoon and the sea then returns to being nearly equal. The turbines are ‘bi-directional’, so the process can be done in reverse as well. As the tide lowers, the gates on the turbine close once again to create a difference in water level. The water will then flow in reverse driving the turbines once more. This happens twice a day, every day. It’s a fully renewable source of energy. There is no requirement for fuel and it’s not intermittent – it’s entirely predictable.