WWF-UK: WWF Cymru response to WAG's Energy Route Map
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WWF Cymru response to WAG's Energy Route Map
19 February 2008
Response from Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru, on the Welsh Assembly Government's Renewables Energy Route Map for Wales which was launched this morning (Tuesday) -
Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru, said: "WWF Cymru welcomes the ambition behind the report and highlights WAG's new responsibility to lead by example and the need for a commitment to an 80% NOT 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. WWF sees this route map as a step in the right direction in order to achieve this target.
"WWF Cymru particularly commends WAG's proposal that a Barrage does not need to be part of the renewable energy solution and that there are other substantial technological options to meet electricity demand from renewables without resorting to degrading internationally important habitats.
"WWF Cymru has been encouraged by the WAG commitment to on and offshore wind, the potential of which the UK still has yet to realise. UK has the largest wind resource in Europe, yet have exploited very little in comparison to other countries with smaller resources. From start to finish a wind farm takes only a matter of months to erect and be producing electricity.
"Tidal stream technology has also been recognised by WAG as being able to produce 5% of electricity demand, which is equivalent to what a barrage would produce except with far less environmental impact. This technology is reminiscent of under water turbines and can be removed as easily as they can be installed, should there be a problem. In this sense they are a very different response to the permanent effect of building large concrete dams such as tidal barrages."
Professor Simon Haslett, Head of Geography in Bath Spa's School of Science and the Environment, shared his experiences with Canadian scientists at a recent conference in Nova Scotia where a pilot barrage project has caused alarm among scientists at the prospect of harnessing tidal power. He warns that Britain must not make the same mistakes.
Morgan Parry continued: "If the Canadians are right we shouldn't even waste any time and millions of pounds of taxpayers' money considering a barrage. We should perhaps move straight on to assessing other methods of generating electricity from the tides."
Professor Haslett says Britain must take heed as the Canadians have been experimenting with tidal power generation in the Bay of Fundy for many years, building a barrage across one of its tributaries as long ago as 1984. The consequences have convinced them that building a barrage is inefficient, has many undesirable environmental impacts, and is unsightly. He maintained that the UK needs to learn from their experience and not make the same mistakes.
For the Canadians the idea of a barrage is now history and doesn't even get raised as an option during tidal power debates. They consider it to be so old hat they are amazed the UK is even considering it. The Canadians now only use turbines that are placed in the tidal stream, so that electricity is generated both on the falling and rising tide.
"WWF Cymru particularly commends WAG's proposal that a Barrage does not need to be part of the renewable energy solution and that there are other substantial technological options to meet electricity demand from renewables without resorting to degrading internationally important habitats.
"WWF Cymru has been encouraged by the WAG commitment to on and offshore wind, the potential of which the UK still has yet to realise. UK has the largest wind resource in Europe, yet have exploited very little in comparison to other countries with smaller resources. From start to finish a wind farm takes only a matter of months to erect and be producing electricity.
"Tidal stream technology has also been recognised by WAG as being able to produce 5% of electricity demand, which is equivalent to what a barrage would produce except with far less environmental impact. This technology is reminiscent of under water turbines and can be removed as easily as they can be installed, should there be a problem. In this sense they are a very different response to the permanent effect of building large concrete dams such as tidal barrages."
Professor Simon Haslett, Head of Geography in Bath Spa's School of Science and the Environment, shared his experiences with Canadian scientists at a recent conference in Nova Scotia where a pilot barrage project has caused alarm among scientists at the prospect of harnessing tidal power. He warns that Britain must not make the same mistakes.
Morgan Parry continued: "If the Canadians are right we shouldn't even waste any time and millions of pounds of taxpayers' money considering a barrage. We should perhaps move straight on to assessing other methods of generating electricity from the tides."
Professor Haslett says Britain must take heed as the Canadians have been experimenting with tidal power generation in the Bay of Fundy for many years, building a barrage across one of its tributaries as long ago as 1984. The consequences have convinced them that building a barrage is inefficient, has many undesirable environmental impacts, and is unsightly. He maintained that the UK needs to learn from their experience and not make the same mistakes.
For the Canadians the idea of a barrage is now history and doesn't even get raised as an option during tidal power debates. They consider it to be so old hat they are amazed the UK is even considering it. The Canadians now only use turbines that are placed in the tidal stream, so that electricity is generated both on the falling and rising tide.
