Weekly Intelligence Brief

Plans for £250 million Clyde tidal barrier move forward

29 January 2010

A plan has been unveiled to create a £250 million tidal barrier across the Clyde at Ardmore near Cardross.

The plans have been put forward by specialists at Strathclyde University.

It has been indicated that the Scottish Government is set to open discussions on a proposed £250 million Clyde tidal barrier. In a report filed by heraldscotland earlier this month, it was mentioned that the structure would dominate the mouth of the Clyde, running from Greenock to the Ardmore Point, between Helensburgh and Dumbarton, with a further rail and road bridge to be added upstream.

It has also been reported that the scheme would generate approximately 200GWH per year by converting energy from tidal flows through the barrage - enough to power every home in Glasgow.

Engineers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have also been developing a new generation of marine turbine. Unlike conventional turbines, the Strathclyde machine has two rotors, turning in opposite directions, which make it very stable and removes the need for expensive, fixed foundations. Instead, it can be connected to the sea bed by a cable that moves with the flow of the tide.