Independent commission to look at tidal energy in Severn Estuary

Britain needs to take back control over its energy supply, says Corsham-based Luminous Energy.

In a joint venture with Penso Power, the company recently won planning permission to build a 350 MW connection capacity battery storage development at Hams Hall in North Warwickshire.

Battery storage means renewable energy suppliers can "respond rapidly and proportionately to imbalances in electricity supply and demand," making electricity generation reliant on sunshine or wind more reliable.

The partners had previously won permission to build a 100 MW facility at Minety in North Wiltshire – at the time Europe's largest energy storage site. Even with a further 50 MW capacity for which the firms won planning permission in 2020, it is still dwarfed by the Hams Hall project.

David Bryson of Luminous Energy said: “From our initial site selection through the planning process we have worked closely with the LPA, National Grid and local groups.

"Now more than ever the UK needs to take back control over its energy supply. Energy storage is critical in supplying affordable, clean power, while also enhancing the UK’s grid reliability.

"This project, one of a pipeline we have in development, will also contribute financially to sustainable and green initiatives locally.”

The Western Gateway Partnership is also leading the bid for another project with the capacity to create huge amounts of energy – a tidal power project on the River Severn.

The Severn estuary – with its famous Severn Bore – has the second largest tidal range in the world. Now an independent commission has been set up to see whether the time is right to use the Severn Estuary to create clean sustainable energy.

The commission has an open remit to explore a range of options including looking at what energy technology exists, which areas would be appropriate, and how environmental impacts can be minimised.

Katherine Bennett CBE, chair of the Western Gateway Partnership, said: "With the second largest tidal range in the world, it has been estimated that this could create up to severn per cent of the UK’s total energy needs.”

Manufacturing firm Swindon Powertrain has launched the first commercially available ‘off the shelf’ battery pack for electric vehicles.

The company, which hit the headlines in 2019 after retrofitting classic (19592000) Minis with electric engines, says its battery pack will ease light duty vehicle developers into electrification.

The battery pack – available in both 30kWh and 60kWh HED versions –can be used to power passenger cars, taxis, and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

Before now, niche manufacturers have had to develop their own packs each time or source parts from used EVs.

The battery pack was developed in order to solve its own supply chain issues.

Now it has begun battery assembly in its facility that was originally used to build race-winning F1 engines in the 1970s, and today makes the engines for Hyundai's British Touring Car Championship cars.

“Niche manufacturers and conversion specialists told us they couldn’t source new, industry-grade batteries from the big suppliers who aren’t interested in low-volume supply,” said Swindon Powertrain’s managing director Raphaël Caillé.

“This has led to some recycling parts from used EVs, often of unknown provenance. HED means they have a fresh, turnkey battery pack complete with the peace of mind that comes from over 50 years of supplying to the motorsport and automotive markets.”

Leaders of the Western Gateway Partnership bid to bring the UK’s fusion energy STEP programme to Severn Edge say this is “not the end of the road” for the site as the government announced the UK’s first fusion plant will be built in Nottinghamshire.

The Severn Edge bid received support from the wider South West region, industry, four of the most researchintensive universities in the UK, businesses, political leaders and the local community.

During the process the profile of both Oldbury and Berkeley sites were boosted, gaining a wide range of interest within Westminster.

Despite being shortlisted as one of the last five sites to be considered home to the £220 million programme and receiving positive feedback in assessments, the government announced in early October that STEP will be developed at the West Burton A site in Nottinghamshire.

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production programme (STEP) is the national project to develop a prototype energy plant to prove the commercial viability of fusion.

Fusion has been described as having the potential to become the “ultimate low carbon energy” source, recreating the reaction that takes place within the sun.

Following the decision the UK Atomic Energy Authority, which is responsible for delivering the programme, stated that “the (Severn Edge) site has many attractive features and would likely be an outstanding candidate for a wide range of developments” and the decision was “testimony to the highly competitive nature of the process”.

They complimented the “partnership approach” that was taken and were sure that this “will result in Severn Edge site being utilised for other important projects in the future”.

Katherine Bennett CBE, chair of the Western Gateway Partnership, said: “I am reassured that this is not the end of discussions with UKAEA about a role for the Western Gateway and Severn Edge in supporting fusion and related technology.

“The Severn Edge site continues to be perfectly placed to benefit communities in England and Wales whilst also tapping into world-leading expertise and supply chains. This is by no means the end of the road for this project, I look forward to where Severn Edge goes next.”