[panholio]

They should have applied that "learning is better on small projects" logic to the space race, and then had a big old scientific circle-jerk when they successfully planted a flag on Ben Nevis.

[smazibummigue]

It seems the commodity cost of coal is about £60 per tonne. The barrage would have produced the equivalent of 18 million tonnes of coal in energy annually- or £1.08 billion- for an annual operating cost of £70 million.

It also had a projected operating lifespan of 120 years. "Too expensive" my arse- anyone who couldn't turn a long-term profit off that would need public execution for rank incompetence.

[FinanseMikky]

Unfortunately, pols don't think much past the next election cycle.

[avitalporatova]

The project sounds interesting and ambitious (just the thing to help show the world the UK still has what it takes) though the cost of 30 billion pounds sterling does sound extremely high. It probably didn't make sense from a cost per unit of energy output basis while nuclear plants do make great economic sense.

[feroiodpiop]

Can you still call them windmills if they are underwater?

[goldcigarettes]

The project sounds interesting and ambitious (just the thing to help show the world the UK still has what it takes) though the cost of 30 billion pounds sterling does sound extremely high. It probably didn't make sense from a cost per unit of energy output basis while nuclear plants do make great economic sense.

Based on comparison with the Hinkley C planned reactor, you could build six to eight nuclear power stations for the cost of one Severn Barrage. The Severn Barrage would produce as much power as three nuclear reactors.

However it would last 3-4 times as long as the reactors, have no decommissioning cost, no nuclear waste, and could generate £20 million to £30 million annually in traffic tolls.

[anconueys]

well that's the thing, projects like this are basically inflation of the national penis..

If anyone's penis could generate 8,640 MW, the entire nation should get behind them.

[TubOppomo]

Unfortunately KH's penis is currently directed at solving the middle east situation.

Even Einstein's penis could not possibly solve that situation.

Also, Oerdin, I think you might want to take a break from Civ until this "huge-ass projects are always their own reward" feeling lets go.

[Friend_Joe]

lentilqueefers

[fkjghfg]

The space race [specifically: the race to put a man on the moon] was a colossal waste of resources.

Would you like to back that up with something or are you content with arrogantly second-guessing and hind-sighting?

[leoto5Fm]

it's been done before, alebit on a much, much smaller scale. in france, canada, russia, china and the UK (northern ireland). there are some projects due to open or be started soon in south korea according to wikipedia, but they would all be dwarfed by the severn barrage.

And that's exactly why we should do it! How much f**king money are we splurging on the waste of money that is the Olympics? It would pay for most of that barrier. But of course, London gets looked on so much favourably than the rest of the country (and I live in London). They should built it, stick another one across the Thames, because come global warming, the Thames Gateway will be under water. And there are also positives to a barrier there such as electricity...

[ThekvandoVideo]

Based on comparison with the Hinkley C planned reactor, you could build six to eight nuclear power stations for the cost of one Severn Barrage. The Severn Barrage would produce as much power as three nuclear reactors.

However it would last 3-4 times as long as the reactors, have no decommissioning cost, no nuclear waste, and could generate £20 million to £30 million annually in traffic tolls.

I'm willing to bet that private companies would foot virtually all the bill for on Hinkley C Reactor though where as most of the Severn Barrage cost would be paid by the government. That's just my guess.

Spending private money is just always more fun then spending public money.

[Kuncher]

Would you like to back that up with something or are you content with arrogantly second-guessing and hind-sighting?

Hind-sighting? Are you suggesting that people didn't understand that the Apollo Program was symbolic?

Even if the judgment were purely in hindsight, how would that affect its validity? The experience "we spent gargantuan sums of money doing something without a clear idea of how the benefits would offset the costs, and it turned out that the benefits didn't offset the costs" is a valuable one.

[gyjsdtuwr]

No one likes Argentina. I've been talking with my Brazilian colleagues about Argentina and they don't like them. Nor do the Mexicans. Even their neighbours, Chile, didn't back them during the war. Sucks to be them

This is like canvassing Celtic supporters for a balanced view on Rangers.

[asSexate]

Cutting the barrage is retarded though.

[shkarpet$]

Wow. I didn't even double click those.

[jyhugikuhih]

(and I live in London).

What percentage of your time do you spend in London. From a tax perspective you could try and claim you are non-resident in the UK!

[Sdinozes]

This is like canvassing Celtic supporters for a balanced view on Rangers.

Or the whole of Scotland?