Tidal Power – An Environment Agency perspective

Ross Lowrie

Environment & Business Senior Advisor (Renewables)

22 November 2016

Environment Agency

We work to create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development

executive non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra (government)

Our duties and roles include: flood and coastal risk management

water quality and resources

conservation and ecology

protecting and improving fisheries

regulating major industry and waste

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We have a role to play in UK tidal power

What we do:

• provide expert advice– and recover our costs

• Regulate

• Advise government

• Communicate our role and position

• Develop advice and guidance on novel issues

• Join up with other regulatory bodies

Official sensitive

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Official sensitive

Habitat changes

Flood Risk

Loss of tidal range

Fish & eel passage

Regeneration &

Recreational spaces

Flood Protection

Home-grown energy

Are you thinking what we’re thinking?

Catchment-scale

improvements Cumulative impacts

Coastal Process Impacts

Water Quality changes

Low carbon future

£multi-billion investment

Up to 10% of UK electricity needs

Tourism

Impact on existing flood

drains and industrial

outfalls

Marine mammals

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All tidal power schemes should:

Comply with statutory standards for environmental quality, species and habitats protection

Avoid or adequately mitigate significant environmental effects through design and operation…or…

…as a last resort, fully compensate

Cause no absolute increase in flood risk to properties, lives or livelihoods

Be sustainable in the long term (inc. climate change impacts & decommissioning)

Tidal Power – An Environment Agency perspective

Ross Lowrie

Environment & Business Senior Advisor (Renewables)

22 November 2016