The leader of Swansea Council has suggested that the tidal lagoon energy project at Swansea could still get the go ahead without backing from the UK Government.
Tidal Lagoon Power's pathfinder project was believed to be a world-first, aimed to lead to a whole fleet of larger lagoons capable of generating more power in Cardiff, Bridgewater Bay, Colwyn Bay and off the coast of Cumbria.
However ministers rejected the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay tidal lagoon scheme, claiming that it was too expensive, 18 months after a report called for approval of the scheme. A move which prompted disappointment across the political spectrum.
Although the Welsh Government have said they do not have the power or resources to build the lagoon, Swansea Council Leader, Rob Stewart, claimed that the project could still go ahead if different ways of funding the scheme are found.
Mr Stewart claimed that discussions about a new plan were occurring with various partners including the Welsh Government. He claimed that different means of funding and building the lagoon, and of selling its power directly to organisations as well as the National Grid, would be considered by the council.
Former head of Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru), Nigel Annett, believes the lagoon can still be built without the need for any Government subsidies. He believes the key to this would be the UK's water companies signing long-term supply deals to obtain energy from the project. He said: ''The water industry, not just in Wales but across the UK, could be persuaded to pre-purchase the energy, and it would then use its financial ability to finance this project at a low cost. The end result would be that the cost of energy would be low, well below today's market prices.''
Greg Clark, the Business and Energy Secretary, said despite no going ahead with the tidal lagoon, that he would continue research funding and be open to ideas on renewable technologies. He commented: ''When it comes to the deployment at scale we have a responsibility to make sure consumers' bills and taxpayers' bills were not sent soaring.''
