An international consortium led by Welsh company DST Innovations has unveiled plans for a newly-designed 320MW tidal lagoon off the coast of Swansea in Wales.
The lagoon is part of the larger proposed £1.7bn Blue Eden project led by DST Innovations and a number of business partners, with support from Swansea Council and Associated British Ports.
Blue Eden will be delivered in three phases over 12 years.
It will also include a 60,000 square metre manufacturing plant to make high-tech batteries for renewable energy storage and a battery facility that will store the renewable energy produced at Blue Eden and power the site.
Blue Eden would also feature a 72,000 square metre floating solar array anchored in the Queen’s dock area and a 94,000 square metre data centre.
There are also plans for an oceanic and climate change research centre, floating dome structures that will become cultural and scientific centres, and approximately 150 floating, highly energy-efficient eco-homes anchored in the water.
Blue Eden will be sited along an extensive area of land and water, to the south of the Prince of Wales Dock in the SA1 area of Swansea.
The developers said Blue Eden will create over 2500 permanent jobs and support a further 16,000 jobs across Wales and the UK, while creating additional jobs during its construction.
Renewable energy produced on site will power the entire Blue Eden development, including businesses and a mixed development of affordable housing, assisted living areas and luxury apartments.
Subject to planning consent, Blue Eden work on site could start by early 2023.
DST Innovations co-founder and chief executive Tony Miles said: “Blue Eden is an opportunity to create a template for the world to follow – utilising renewable energy and maximising new technologies and thinking to develop not only a place to live and work, but also to thrive.”
The company said the project has been developed following discussions based on a vision put forward by a regional task force led by Swansea Council.
Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart said: “We are aware now more than ever of the need to develop renewable energy supplies to provide sustainable and affordable electricity to families and businesses.
“Blue Eden will put Swansea and Wales at the cutting-edge of global renewable energy innovation, helping create thousands of well-paid jobs, significantly cut our carbon footprint and further raise Swansea’s profile across the world as a place to invest.
“I’m delighted that an international consortium led by a Welsh company has developed our Dragon Energy Island vision into a ground-breaking project that delivers so many benefits and builds on the council’s ambition to become a net zero city by 2050.
“This project truly is a game-changer for Swansea, its economy and renewable energy in the UK, and crucially it can be delivered without the need for government subsidies.”