An independent UK government-funded review led by former energy minister Charles Hendry has backed plans for a £1.3bn ($1.6bn) tidal lagoon in South Wales,  concluding that such schemes can offer substantial opportunities and be highly competitive with other low-carbon energy sources such as offshore wind.

The 320MW Swansea Bay pathfinder project would involve 16 turbines along a breakwater, and is seen as a prototype for much larger lagoons.