London Eye Architect Proposes Ambitious 14-Mile Lagoon Project Along Somerset Coast

The visionary architect behind the London Eye has unveiled plans for a massive tidal energy project stretching in a fourteen-mile semi-circle off the coast of Somerset. This groundbreaking scheme seeks to harness the power of the tides to meet surging energy needs, fueled in part by the expansion in AI. Interestingly, the design also includes a novel cycle track that would allow cyclists to travel over the surface of the Bristol Channel.

The £11bn Vision

Julia Barfield, who also created the Brighton i360, is leading a team that has developed the £11bn proposal. The structure would sweep from Minehead to Watchet harbour and utilize around one hundred and twenty-five subsea turbines to generate power from the area's exceptionally high tidal range.

“If the decision is to proceed with embracing increasing AI use – something that surprises me is rarely challenged further at a time of climate crisis – then it is going to be better with a renewable energy source,” said the architect. “Datacentres could double electricity needs and this is a predictable and reliable source.”

Addressing the AI Energy Crunch

The proposal comes against a backdrop of increasing anxiety that the exponential growth in use of artificial intelligence in the UK will drive up carbon emissions unless more low-carbon power are developed. The expansion of AI is expected to compound sharp increases in electricity demand across the nation.

The proposed barrage would not block the full breadth of the channel. Instead, it would form a curved structure with a peak capacity of 2.5GW – comparable to the peak energy expected from the nearby Hinkley Point C power station. This output would be sufficient to supply approximately two million households.

More Than Just Power

The broader plan extends far beyond energy generation. It proposes a path along the top of the lagoon wall for pedestrians and cyclists, a marina for sailing, a lido, and an observation tower. Designers have also floated the idea that data centers could be installed inside the structure, taking advantage of cheap cooling from the sea.

Additional elements could include oyster and mussel beds, arrays of solar panels on the water, and a coastal amphitheatre to revitalize the local economy of the area, which has faced deprivation in recent years.

A Reliable Energy Source

Energy from tides is viewed as more reliable than solar or wind power, despite periods each day when the tides turn. Backers of the Somerset tidal project estimate it would have a operational life of one hundred and twenty years, thereby generating power more cost-effectively than nuclear power over its lifetime.

The project was first conceived several years ago with the primary aim of lowering the UK's carbon footprint. The subsequent rise of AI has created further impetus to the plan, as electricity demand from datacentres are predicted to rise dramatically in the years ahead.

Navigating Challenges

This newest plan is the newest in a long line of ideas to utilize the tidal energy of the Severn estuary. Previous proposals for larger barrages have sparked concerns about environmental impact. The current sponsors stress that their lagoon design would not interfere with navigation routes to major ports and is situated away from specially designated conservation zones.

“Minehead and that whole area of West Somerset is an area of deprivation and this project will drive regeneration,” Barfield said. “It will generate high-quality full-time jobs, an area for aquatic sports, a lido, a visitors’ centre, an observation tower and arts venues.”