Weekly Intelligence Brief

Prospect of a tidal power scheme on the Mersey Estuary improves

7 October 2009

The North West Regional Development Agency and UK firm Peel Energy have confirmed plans for a study that will evaluate the feasibility of harnessing the tidal power of the Mersey.

The objectives of the study are to identify a single preferred tidal power scheme that stands the greatest chance of delivering the maximum affordable energy from the tidal resources in the Mersey estuary. It has already been mentioned that any scheme put forward will need to take into account the ecological diversity of the Estuary. The new study will also assess acceptable impacts on the shipping, business and the community. 

A team led by Scott Wilson, EDF, and Drivers Jonas, and supported by RSK, APEM, HR Wallingford, Regeneris, Turner & Townsend, University of Liverpool and a number of other advisors, has been appointed to undertake the study.

The NWDA has described the Mersey Estuary as one of the best locations for a tidal power generation scheme.  The Agency added that it has the potential to make a significant contribution to the Government’s target to secure 15% of UK energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Peel, in partnership with the NWDA and the Mersey Basin Campaign, has already completed a pre-feasibility study, Power from the Mersey, to consider viability, technology and options. The project is now progressing with the aim of identifying a preferred scheme and taking it to a planning application by 2012,  with a scheduled date for the completion of construction and operational commencement of 2020.

Read more:

Mersey Estuary: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/Mersey+Estuary

North West Regional Development Agency: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/North+West+Regional+Development+Agency