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Tidal Lagoon Plants Could Power 8% Of UK

Plans for a vast tidal lagoon power plant which could provide enough energy for all the homes in Wales have been launched.

The lagoon, between Cardiff and Newport, would include 90 turbines set in a 14-mile breakwater and could provide enough electricity for 1.5 million homes for 120 years, according to supporters.

The idea would build on a previous proposal in Swansea Bay, which is awaiting a planning decision in June.

Tidal Lagoon Power, the business behind the plans, said it was looking at four other potential lagoons at Newport, West Cumbria, Colwyn Bay and Bridgwater Bay.

Together the lagoons could provide 8% of the UK's electricity with clean renewable power, the company said.

An Environmental Impact Assessment will be submitted by the company for the Cardiff lagoon.

A full planning application could be submitted in 2017, and if it was approved it could start generating power in 2022.

Mark Shorrock, chief executive of Tidal Lagoon Power, said: "Full-scale tidal lagoon infrastructure gives the UK an opportunity to generate electricity from our amazing tidal range at a cost comparable to fossil fuel or nuclear generation.

"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.

"We will build on the template established for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon - applying the expertise and learning, scaling the UK supply chain and turbine assembly plant, leveraging the institutional investor partnerships we have developed - to deliver a Cardiff tidal lagoon capable of working in harmony with nature to supply around 1.5 million UK homes, now and for generations to come, with affordable, reliable, low-carbon electricity.

"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."