Parsons Brinckerhoff dragged into green energy costs row

Parsons Brinckerhoff has been dragged into a row over green energy plans in the Severn estuary, after a firm promoting a rival scheme to the favoured £14bn tidal barrier accused the US engineer of miscalculating the costs of the project.

Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) was called in by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to assess technologies that could harness the estuary to produce enough electricity to supply up to 7% of England and Wales' requirements.

The Guardian reported that its feasability study for the estuary has already been sent to ministers who will soon shortlist potential schemes.

A £14bn tidal barrier is thought to be the favourite but the paper claimed it had seen correspondence which showed that environmental groups and other engineers have argued with PB that other schemes would be far less damaging and cheaper, as well as more efficient.

Tidal Electric, which wants to generate electricity using tidal lagoons built on the estuary floor, claims that its idea could generate around 25%-40% more energy than the barrier.

But the Guardian reported that PB's report sent to ministers claimed tidal lagoons would be eight times more expensive and not generate as much power.

Tidal Electric chief executive Peter Ullman accused PB of "huge miscalculations".

A PB spokesman told the paper that it was unable to comment on Ullman's complaint but stressed that all options have been technically assessed to a "common engineering and cost baseline".

Tidal Electric is backed by environmental groups including Friends of the Earth and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, as well as protest group Stop the Barrage Now.