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Renewable Energy: River Severn

Volume 493: debated on Monday 8 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent from the public purse since 1980 on projects to provide renewable energy from the river Severn. (278073)

–The Government’s current feasibility study has cost approximately £3 million since 2008. A study by the Sustainable Development Commission in 2007 (which covered all UK tidal power) received £400,000 of public funding. A report by Sir Robert McAlpine Limited in 2002 received £50,000 funding, and approximately £2.8 million was spent on a major study in 1987.

Severn tidal power has also been addressed at other times over the period as part of the wider assessment of UK marine energy potential. However there would be a disproportionate cost involved in obtaining accurate figures for spending related to energy from the Severn.