Consortium to Manage Major Tidal Power Generation Studies for UK
Government
Redhill, UK (06 May 2008) – Black & Veatch, a leading global consulting,
engineering, and construction company, has been appointed as part of a
consortium led by Parsons Brinckerhoff to undertake a Strategic Environmental
Assessment (SEA) and related engineering studies for tidal power generation in
the Severn Estuary.
The two-year study, for the Department for Business, Enterprise and
Regulatory Reform (BERR), is a major part of the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility
Study announced by Secretary of State John Hutton in January.
The tidal energy resource in the Severn Estuary provides the largest
potential of all the UK’s estuaries for renewable electricity generation.
Previous studies indicate that as much as 5 percent of the UK’s electricity
demand could be met by harnessing the huge tidal range of the Estuary.
Matthew Nott, Managing Director for Black & Veatch’s UK Government &
Industry business, explained, “As with any sustainable renewable energy
project, it is vital to balance the benefits of achieving reduced carbon
emissions against the potential environmental impacts of the project itself.
This will be a major aspect of the SEA and will include an early review of
potential environmental mitigation measures. We will be working closely
throughout with all interested parties including key stakeholders and the
public.”
The consortium is led by Project Director, Peter Kydd, Director of Planning
& Environment at Parsons Brinckerhoff, with Matthew Nott of Black &
Veatch serving as Deputy Project Director. Black & Veatch and PB are
supported by a number of specialist organisations with expertise in
environmental science, stakeholder engagement and cost consultancy.
The study will call for new evidence and review available evidence to assess
the impacts, costs and benefits of options for power generation using tidal
range technologies, such as barrages and lagoons, to enable the UK Government
to determine whether it could support such a scheme.
Project Director Kydd said, “One of our first actions will be to issue a
Call for Proposals and a Call for Evidence on the environmental and other
impacts of any tidal range scheme in the Severn Estuary. We will also be
assisting BERR in setting up a Steering Group and Expert Panels to provide
independent advice and act as a peer review.”
Nott added, “The Severn Estuary is of national, European and international
nature conservation significance. Before any scheme could proceed, we must make
sure we understand the environmental impacts and can adequately mitigate or
compensate them.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and
construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy,
water, telecommunications, management consulting, federal and environmental
markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure
solutions that meet clients’ needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions
are provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black
& Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services,
engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset
management, program management, construction management, environmental,
security design and consulting, management consulting and infrastructure
planning. With $3.2 billion in revenue, the employee-owned company has more
than 100 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100
countries on six continents. The company’s Web site address is www.bv.com.
Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) is a global leader in developing and
operating infrastructure around the world, with 12,000 employees dedicated to
meeting the needs of clients and communities across Europe, Africa, the
Americas, the Middle East, Asia and the Australia-Pacific region. PB provides a
wide range of advice, skills and resources in strategic consulting, programme
management, environmental services, planning, engineering, construction
management and operations. For over a century, PB has earned a distinguished
reputation for delivering world-class infrastructure and its technical
expertise in transportation, power, community development, water and the
environment.
Media Contact:
Malcolm Hallsworth
01737 856594
07920 701764
hallsworthm@bv.com
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