A fund to assist the development of generating electricity from tidal power in the UK's River Severn was lauched today (2nd April) by the UK government. Details of the Severn Embryonic Technologies Scheme were announced by UK Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O'Brien and Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister Jane Davidson.

The aim of the scheme is to further develop proposals like tidal reefs, fences and other ideas that come from environmental entrepreneurs and small businesses for generating power using the tidal energy available from the river.

A public consultation is underway on a proposed shortlist of schemes to generate clean, green electricity from the power of the tides in the Severn estuary. The shortlist includes a mixture of barrages and lagoon schemes.  The Government has made clear it will consider the progress of embryonic technologies before any decisions are taken on whether to support a Severn tidal power scheme.

 The £500,000 scheme is being managed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Welsh Assembly Government, Defra, and the South West of England Regional Development Agency.

 Mike O'Brien said: "This funding will help us understand the potential of these emerging ideas and whether, and how long, we would have to wait for them to come to fruition.

 "The Severn estuary has massive potential to help achieve our climate change and renewable energy targets. So far our consultation on a proposed shortlist of five schemes has received over 400 responses.

 "As well as this shortlist, I am keen to keep innovative options on the table. That's why we are inviting companies to bid for a share of the funds to accelerate progress."

 Claire Gibson, Director of Sustainable Resources at the South West RDA, said: "The South West is already home to some of the world's leading companies in tidal stream technology. We want to create an innovative culture which will place the region at the forefront of the marine renewable energy sector, and we therefore encourage businesses with early stage concepts to get involved, to discuss how we can all work together to make the most of this huge untapped resource in the Severn."