This is a CTP of initiative: Transition Bro Gwaun (UK)
This CTP was the development of a feasibility study into the potential of tidal energy off the coast of Pembrokeshire in 2011. At the time,and with th etechnology available, this was deemed an unviable option.
It was a critical turning point because it was the group’s first experience of developing an energy project. Following the feasibility work, they then moved on to the wind turbine project (see CTP 107). The tidal energy project gave them experience of developing energy projects, as well as the confidence to proceed with subsequent activities.
This was also the point at which they constituted themselves as a limited company because they were responsible for administering a £18,000 grant to fund the feasibility work. Being constituted as a company has subsequently ‘opened more doors’.
A meeting was held in 2010 in Fishguard where various renewable options for the area were discussed.
Grant funding from the Welsh government’s Local Energy programme (the Ynni'r Fro' - administered by the Energy Saving Trust) enabled them to undertake a feasibility study of tidal potential off the coast. A local development officer from the Energy Saving Trust came to a meeting in 2010 and helped them develop the project and draw down the grant funding to pay for the feasibility study. The feasibility study was undertaken between April and July 2011 and was subsequently published in November 2011.
The idea for tidal energy around Stumble Head originated from the Mayor of Fishguard and from Councilor Bob Wheatley who was an engineer by occupation and was enthusiastic about the potential for tidal energy in the locality. For tides in the area are quite strong and there is a port for access.
The survey was undertaken by a group of specialist tidal power engineers from Swansea called SwanTurbines Ltd. At the time, it was difficult to find independent people to do the survey. They paid for half the work and the Welsh government (through the renewables funding) paid for the other half. SwanTurbines would have benefited if it has been feasible. Transition Bro Gwaun had a ‘Heads of Terms’ legal agreement with SwanTurbines because they wanted to ensure that it was a community project if it proceeded.
There was a meeting in 2010 to look at renewable energy opportunities in the area. The local mayor at the time (Bob Wheatley) was a retired engineer who had a passion for tidal energy and encouraged them to get some grant funding through the Welsh government’s community renewable programme. This provided the money necessary for feasibility work and for helping projects get to a planning stage.
The feasibility study showed that the tidal energy levels were not sufficient given the current state of technologies.
After the tidal feasibility study had been completed, Transition Bro Gwaun moved onto develop a community owned wind turbine (see CTP 107).
The tidal project is something that they might revisit in the future. There is a body called Seacams based at Bangor University that undertook some further survey work for Transition Bro Gwaun in 2014 which indicated that there could be potential and some tidal flow, so they are currently trying to take that forward and get some further funding from the Pembrokshire Coast National Park sustainable development fund to do some more feasibility work in the latter half of 2016.
There was no reported conflict around this critical turning point.
The feasibility study felt like a CTP at the time as it was understood as a development that helped raise their profile in the local community. However, the outcome wasn’t positive, so it didn’t create great excitement. Nonetheless, it still gave them the confidence to pursue further projects.
The feasibility study itself produced new knowledge about the viability of marine energy in the locality - including data about the tidal flows, ecology, the views of stakeholders and on other legal issues.
As an organization, Trasition Bro Gwaun didn’t learn anything drastically new. The relationship with the company worked well. It was quite informal. Had the project proceeded, it would have had to become more formal relationship.
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