A three month consultation on a short list of five possible Severn tidal power schemes has been launched. This consultation will be used to help the government decide whether or not to support tidal power development in the Severn Estuary. The Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study Consultation was launched on 26 January and will close on 23 April.

Phase one of the consultation is canvassing views on:

* a recommended shortlist of schemes
* the scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment that is being carried out within the feasibility study
* the issues the feasibility study is considering and how these are being approached

Ten potential development options have been considered so far for generating tidal power in the Severn Estuary. These include barrages, lagoons, a tidal reef and tidal fence. These have now been narrowed down to a proposed shortlist of five, but all ten proposals will be subject to the three-month consultation process.