A study is under way to explore options for tidal-energy generation across the Duddon Estuary in south Cumbria.

Tidal barrages, fences, reefs and other innovative technologies will all be considered along with the potential for a road link between Millom and Barrow-in-Furness.

Regeneration organisation Britain's Energy Coast West Cumbria has commissioned consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff to undertake the feasibility study, which will help to identify the best options for any potential development. 

Parsons Brinckerhoff will review the findings of previous studies carried out by Balfour Beatty and Sir Robert McAlpine for the Department for Trade and Industry back in 1994, while taking into account the recent revival of interest in tidal energy and the introduction of challenging renewable energy and carbon reduction targets.

Previous studies suggested the Duddon Estuary has potential to generate around 100 Megawatts of energy - enough to power in the region of 200,000 homes - and provide a new transport link that would cut 17 miles off the current journey between Millom and Barrow.

This latest study for a Duddon Estuary Tidal Energy Scheme will examine options from an energy, infrastructure and environmental perspective. It will assess the suitability of existing and emerging tidal technologies, set against the cost of development and the potential environmental impact of any scheme. It will also set options against the wider context of the pressing need to update Cumbria's connection to the National Grid and to improve transport links in Furness and west Cumbria to support Britain's Energy Coast™ initiative.

The study has been funded with a £30,000 grant from Britain's Energy Coast West Cumbria and a further £30,000 from the Carbon Challenge Fund, which is administered by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). Parsons Brinckerhoff and Britain's Energy Coast West Cumbria will hold a workshop for invited key stakeholders later this month, and a second more comprehensive workshop before it publishes the findings of the study in the summer.

Stuart Cowperthwaite, programme director of Britain's Energy Coast West Cumbria, said: 'With Cumbria poised to play an important role in tackling the pressing issues of climate change and energy security through the Britain's Energy Coast initiative, it is an ideal time to revisit and update the potential for tidal energy generation across the Duddon Estuary. Alongside tidal schemes being considered for Morecambe Bay and the Solway Firth; continued offshore and emerging community-owned onshore developments; and the county's first farm-based anaerobic digestion plant about to come on line, we are starting to see a brighter, more prosperous and greener future emerge.'