Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 21 May 2013.
Terms of Reference
Summary
1 Introduction
Context of the inquiry
Our inquiry
2 Transparency and public consultation
A lack of publicly-available information
Need for robust and credible evidence
Engagement with stakeholders
Legislative routes
3 Costs and value for money
Cost of Energy
Contract for Difference (CfD) support
Value for money compared to other low-carbon sources
Flood risk benefits and the strike price
Financing the barrage
4 Environmental impacts and mitigation
Flood impacts
Loss of intertidal habitat
International comparator sites
Impact on fish
"Fish-friendly" turbines?
Compliance with EU legislation
EU process under the Habitats Directive
Feasible alternative solutions?
Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI)
Clarity in application of the EU Habitats Directive
Compensatory measures and mitigation
5 Socio-economic impacts
Jobs, industry and growth
Adverse impacts to local industries
Impacts to the ports industry: water levels
Pumping
Operation of locks
Siltation and dredging
Marine aggregates industry
Fishing and tourism industry
Overall employment impact
6 Decarbonisation and energy security benefits
Energy security
"Variable base load power"
Climate Change Benefits
Carbon savings
Contribution to climate change targets
Weighing up the arguments
7 Barrage technology and alternatives
The Hafren Power barrage design
Very-Low-Head turbines
A fixed barrage
Tidal power facilities worldwide
An alternative approach?
Other tidal power proposals
Socio-economic and environmental impacts of alternatives
Future of tidal industry and Severn resource management
8 Conclusions
Recommendations
Formal Minutes
Witnesses
List of printed written evidence
List of additional written evidence
List of unprinted evidence
List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament
Oral and written evidence
Tuesday 10 January 2013:Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, British Labour Party, Martin Mansfield, Wales TUC General Secretary and Andy Richards, Wales Secretary, Unite the Union in Wales and President, Wales TUC; Martin Spray CBE, Chief Executive, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Kate Jennings, Head of Site Conservation Policy, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dr Simon Pryor, Natural Environment Director, National Trust and Martin Salter, National Campaigns Co-ordinator, The Angling Trust; Simon Bird, Chief Executive, Bristol Port Company, Matthew Kennerley, Associated British Ports Port Director, South Wales and Professor Tim Broyd, Engineering the Future
Wednesday 30 January 2013: Gregory Shenkman, Chairman, Hafren Power Ltd, Anthony Pryor CBE, Chief Executive, Hafren Power Ltd, Ian Gardner, Director, UKMEA Board, Arup, Professor Roger A Falconer, Expert Panel, Hafren Power and CH2M HILL-Halcrow Professor of Water Management, Cardiff University and Andre Karihaloo, Head of Operations, Hafren Power; Andrew Shirley, Chief Surveyor, the Country Land and Business Association, Johnny Gowdy, Programme Director, Regen SW, Rupert Armstrong Evans, Proprietor, Evans Engineering and Power Company Ltd and Vincent de Laleu, Offshore and Marine Engineering, EDF Energy
Thursday 28 February 2013: Ed Mitchell, Director of Environment and Business, Environment Agency, Dr Richard Cresswell MBE, Director South West, Environment Agency and Mike Evans, Strategic Environmental Planning Manager, Environment Agency; Alan Seatter, Deputy Director-General, DG Environment, European Commission; Gregory Barker MP, Minister of State, DECC, Trevor Raggatt, Head of Small Scale and Emerging Renewables and Barbara Garnier Schofield, Head - Marine Energy and Tidal Range
Written evidence
Additional Written Evidence
