Advanced proposals unveiled for River Mersey tidal scheme which would be world’s biggest

Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram has announced the progression of the scheme with the formal planning process for the UK’s “first of a kind” Mersey Tidal Power set to begin.

Rotheram has revealed that the city region will pursue a barrage between the Wirral and Liverpool as the preferred option for the city region’s flagship Mersey Tidal Power project.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA’s) plan is for the barrage to consist of 28 turbines, sluices and marine navigation locks capable of producing 700MW capacity.

The barrage scheme would generate clean, predictable energy for 120 years and create thousands of jobs in its construction and operation.

Updated proposals open the possibility of a first-ever cycling and pedestrian route over the river between Liverpool and Wirral. The barrage would also provide a defence against future flooding risks associated with climate change.

Tidal range schemes generate electricity using the energy available from the difference in height of the tides, which can be up to 10m in Liverpool Bay.

Planned to be operational by 2040, the tidal project will feature “mature technology” with its 28 turbines each providing 25MW capacity, making them bigger than the largest offshore wind turbines.

The Mersey Tidal power project is regarded as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and will progress under the Development Consent Order process.

The planned cycling and pedestrian route over the river between Liverpool and Wirral

No price estimates have been put forward yet, but reports believe it will be in the billions and once completed, the authority will aim to operate the piece of infrastructure for over 120 years.

The LCRCA will be asked at a meeting on 15 March to approve the submission of a scoping opinion to the Planning Inspectorate later this year for the scheme.

Over the last three years, the authority has undertaken early technical work to develop the potential scope of the scheme, which it believes could be up and running within a decade.

The report to LCRCA notes that a barrage option would be less expensive than a lagoon, requiring less material and lower levels of government support.

Mersey Tidal Power is a key part of a push for tidal range projects across the UK, focused on the west coast. Tidal range technology can make use of the UK’s abundant natural resources to create greater domestic energy security, complementing offshore wind, hydrogen and solar power.

Rotheram said: “The River Mersey has been the lifeblood of our region’s fortunes for centuries – and it has an even more vital role to play in our future. Where our area was once a leader in the First Industrial Revolution, we now have an opportunity to seize our chance to become a leader in the green industrial revolution.

“Mersey Tidal Power has the potential to generate clean, predictable energy for 120 years, create thousands of green jobs and apprenticeships – and all but seal our area’s status as Britain’s renewable energy coast. Beyond the banks of the River Mersey, this is a national infrastructure asset that could position the UK as a global leader in the renewables race and help to turbocharge our net zero ambitions.

“We are under no illusions, we know there are still significant technical and financial challenges to overcome, but the plans we’ve unveiled today mark a huge step on our journey to bringing Mersey Tidal Power to life. Quite simply, the case for tidal has never been clearer – both for our economy and our planet.”

LCRCA portfolio holder for net-zero and air quality David Baines said: “Existing strengths in wind and solar power and emerging strengths in hydrogen mean that our city region is already leading the way in developing a cleaner and greener economy.

“Harnessing the power of the River Mersey to generate green and predictable energy for the next 100 years and more would be an incredible addition to our clean energy mix.

“We need to ensure we are extremely aware of our sensitive local ecology but just reaching this stage in the Mersey Tidal Power project has taken a huge amount of hard work allied with vision and would be a big step towards it becoming a reality.”

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