Marine renewables have been identified as a key sector for development in the devolved administration for Wales’ first marine plan for Welsh seas. It covers the inshore and offshore marine plan areas for which Welsh ministers are the marine planning authority.

The plan said the Bristol Channel (including the Severn Estuary) and north Wales represented a strategically important source of renewable energy. The strategy recognises that although barrage technology had been evaluated for many years, the latest tidal lagoon technology presented a new opportunity.