Liverpool Inches Closer to Tidal Barrage Construction: Potential for Clean Energy and RegenerationMersey River Barrier Project Gains Momentum: World's Largest Tidal Facility in the Making

The Development of a Barrier Across the Mersey River

The development of a barrier to span the Mersey River is slowly taking shape. If approved, this ambitious project would become the world's largest tidal range facility, providing a safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists.

Talks of constructing a barrier across the Mersey have been going on for decades. The first mention was recorded in 1924, followed by numerous reports and feasibility studies in the 1980s. In 2015, politician John McDonnell attended a meeting discussing the proposal, but progress has been slow until now.

Liverpool City Region's mayor, Steve Rotheram, who signed a partnership deal with South Korean state water company K-Water in 2022, stated, "For as long as I can remember, there has been discussion of building a tidal barrage on the Mersey. Thanks to devolution, we are working towards making this a reality. While there are still challenges to overcome, the Mersey Tidal Power project has the potential to provide clean and predictable energy for up to a century, powering one million homes."

K-Water is no stranger to tidal power, having operated the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station since 2011. This facility features 10 turbines that generate electricity twice a day, with an annual production capacity of over 550 GWh. The Liverpool City Region Authority has been researching various proposals for the Mersey for three years, and has now chosen a bridge/barrage option between Liverpool and the Wirral for the formal planning stage.

Interestingly, a previous barrage proposal across the Mersey was abandoned in 2011 due to concerns about its profitability. However, Rotheram revived the idea during his mayoral campaign in 2017, and funding was allocated to the project in 2020. The planned structure would not only serve as a pedestrian and cycling route, but also house 28 turbines that generate electricity from the tides. This would make it the largest tidal range scheme in the world, with a capacity of 700 MW.

The design includes features such as sluice gates and navigation locks to address potential flooding and maintain marine traffic flow. The exact location of the barrage is yet to be determined, with the Liverpool Echo reporting that previous options may no longer be feasible and that alternative locations closer to the river mouth are being considered to support regeneration efforts in Liverpool and Wirral.

If approved later this week, the multi-billion-pound project will be sent to the UK's Planning Inspectorate for review and feedback on necessary environmental surveys. The bureaucratic process could take several years, but there is hope that the project, which will require government funding, will be completed by 2040 and have a lifespan of at least 120 years.

"The great thing about tidal range is that we're building something that will operate for more than 100 years. Our goal for the Liverpool City Region is to achieve net zero by 2040 and beyond."

Martin Land, Director of the Mersey Tidal Power project, shared, "The great thing about tidal range is that we're building something that will operate for more than 100 years. Our goal for the Liverpool City Region is to achieve net zero by 2040 and beyond."

Steven Russell
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