(Phys.org) —What about building five "tidal energy" plants in the UK, as a source of clean and reliable energy? Can such a resource be harnessed in a way that makes economic, environmental and social sense? That is the vision of a UK company, Tidal Lagoon Power, promoting such tidal plant installations as a beneficial energy initiative. On Friday, the Cheltenham-based company submitted an application for a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act 2008 for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. This would be the largest tidal power plant in the world. The project, along with four others, could meet 10 per cent of the UK's electricity needs from the tides by 2023. "Our intention is to supply 10 percent of the UK's domestic electricity by building at least five full-scale tidal lagoons in UK waters by 2023," said Mark Shorrock, chief executive of Tidal Lagoon Power. The current application represents the first step in deploying the lagoon technology that would enable renewable power. But what exactly is a tidal lagoon? This is a harbor structure that can close off a tidal sea area. Turbines are used through which the sea moves to generate electricity.
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