DECC Regulates Tidal Lagoons Attached to Land

Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) launched a consultation on addendum to guidance under the Energy Act 2004 related to tidal lagoons attached to land.

The addendum has been developed to ensure that existing requirements for the decommissioning of offshore renewable installations, as set out in the Energy Act 2004 and supporting Offshore Renewables Decommissioning Guidance, applies to tidal lagoons.

This extension of the guidance relates specifically to tidal lagoons attached to land, which currently fall outside its scope. To date, the UK has not sought to develop its tidal lagoon potential and hence such installations have not so far been included in Government guidance.

In the light of The Crown Estate leasing round 2014 for tidal range projects DECC recommend that applications for nationally significant tidal lagoon installations are drafted so as to extend the provisions of the Energy Act 2004. This will enable the Government to use existing mechanisms to manage the long-term maintenance and/or decommissioning of tidal lagoons attached to land.

The consultation closes on 23 November 2014.