Kepler Energy, a spin-out of Oxford University, has begun looking for support for a £143m ($224m) tidal fence.
The spin-out is hoping to construct the fence in the Bristol Channel, the stretch of water between Welsh capital Cardiff and Bristol in England. Once completed, Kepler hopes that the 14 horizontal turbines stretching 1km will generate 30MW. If the project gets the go ahead, Kepler hopes to have the fence in place by 2021.
The news comes shortly after planning permission was granted for a £1bn tidal lagoon in nearby Swansea Bay, which could be joined by further tidal lagoons in Cardiff, Newport, and Bridgewater, all located along the Bristol Channel.
Last year, Kepler won £30,000 as a regional runner up in the Shell Springboard national competition for its tidal turbine, which is designed to harness low velocity currents.
Peter Dixon, chairman of Kepler Energy, said to news provider Construction Manager: “It is a good time to let people know what we are doing – we have confidence from the research work we have done and tidal power is at the top of people’s agenda. The Swansea lagoon has given confidence to potential investors that there is a real industry to be had, and that we are a viable investment.”
