Harnessing tidal energy to generate electricity is nothing new. What's new is using tidal lagoons, a never before tried method of generating electric power from sea power.

A British firm, Tidal Lagoon Power, has unveiled plans build the world's first lagoon power plants in the United Kingdom. The firm intends to build six giant circular retaining walls embedded with turbines that will capture the potential energy of tides.

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The entire project is expected to cost US$46 billion, which will come from taxpayer money. The cost would be funded by British consumers under the existing government scheme to promote home-grown, low-carbon energy.

A lagoon power plant works by isolating a large space of water, in this case a lagoon, to drive turbines built into walls as the tidal levels rise and fall throughout the day.

Four of these structures will be built in Wales and two in England. The power plants in Wales are located at Swansea, Cardiff, Newport and Colwyn Bay while those in England will be located at Bridgwater Bay in Somerset and West Cumbria.

The proposed lagoon power plant in Swansea will be built in a lagoon measuring five miles across and stretching two miles out to sea.

When completed, these tidal lagoon turbines are expected to account for some eight percent of the UK's total power. The plants could be generating power by 2022.

The lagoon power plants could operate for up to 120 years, giving the government a sustainable source of clean energy with little risks.

A lagoon is a shallow, often elongated body of water separated from a larger body of water by a shallow or exposed shoal, coral reef, or similar feature.