Comments on: The Severn barrage http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/10/15/28 A critical appraisal of issues in the move to a low-carbon economy Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:32:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Steve Rawlings http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/10/15/28#comment-332 Steve Rawlings Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:52:43 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/10/15/28#comment-332 I agree with everything that Morrigan says - and much that Malcolm says, EXCEPT when he says "The Severn barrage is needed". I doubt whether the energy profile from the barrage could ever be usefully integrated into the grid transmission system, and the ongoing barrage maintenance costs would make the whole project a burden on society. There are other, less intrusive, ways of harnessing energy from our tides and waves. Let's not dismiss lagoons just yet - they have a lot of potential. I agree with everything that Morrigan says - and much that Malcolm says, EXCEPT when he says “The Severn barrage is needed”.

I doubt whether the energy profile from the barrage could ever be usefully integrated into the grid transmission system, and the ongoing barrage maintenance costs would make the whole project a burden on society.

There are other, less intrusive, ways of harnessing energy from our tides and waves. Let’s not dismiss lagoons just yet - they have a lot of potential.

]]> By: Morrigan http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/10/15/28#comment-326 Morrigan Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:09:36 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/10/15/28#comment-326 I can see from the comment on here the selfishness of the human race. We made this mess and it seems we are intent on destroying the habitats of the animals we share this with to get us out of this mess. There are other alternatives. The severn Barrage is just about politics. The government wants to be seen to be green. No use if your scheme is'nt very impressive now is it. Much better to have something large for all to see. That'll impress the gullible public. The government does'nt care about the environment or climate change. All they care about is how many votes they will get in the next general election. I can see from the comment on here the selfishness of the human race.
We made this mess and it seems we are intent on destroying the habitats of the animals we share this with to get us out of this mess.
There are other alternatives.
The severn Barrage is just about politics. The government wants to be seen to be green. No use if your scheme is’nt very impressive now is it.
Much better to have something large for all to see.
That’ll impress the gullible public.
The government does’nt care about the environment or climate change. All they care about is how many votes they will get in the next general election.

]]> By: Malcolm Hyland http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/10/15/28#comment-12 Malcolm Hyland Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:53:58 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/10/15/28#comment-12 The Severn barrage is needed. Our fossil fuels supplies are reducing and we are becoming more reliant on overseas suppliers with the consequent lessening of security of supply. The barrage scheme at La Rance has worked successfully for some 40 years and more recently the Bay of Fundy scheme also. We need to be certain of technical viability of the scheme and both have demonstrated this. The lagoons proposal do not have this positive history to support it. The barrange scheme by its size will move us into the renewable era and diversify supply sources. The downside is the possible effects on wildlife and ecosystems and this must be fully investigated in the study. Difficult decisions will be needed but reducing global warming and and improving security of energy supply must be paramount. The Severn barrage is needed. Our fossil fuels supplies are reducing and we are becoming more reliant on overseas suppliers with the consequent lessening of security of supply.
The barrage scheme at La Rance has worked successfully for some 40 years and more recently the Bay of Fundy scheme also. We need to be certain of technical viability of the scheme and both have demonstrated this. The lagoons proposal do not have this positive history to support it.
The barrange scheme by its size will move us into the renewable era and diversify supply sources. The downside is the possible effects on wildlife and ecosystems and this must be fully investigated in the study. Difficult decisions will be needed but reducing global warming and and improving security of energy supply must be paramount.

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