Operators of the world’s biggest tidal power scheme in South Korea sign agreement with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to support his £6bn Mersey tidal project. Tony McDonough reports
Experts running the biggest tidal energy scheme in the world have signed a knowledge-sharing agreement with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Mersey Tidal Power Project.
Costing an estimated £6bn, Mr Rotheram has proposed a scheme to use the powerful tides of the Mersey Estuary to generate emissions-free electricity. It is an idea that has been around for decades but has been given fresh impetus by the Metro Mayor.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) is looking at two options – either a barrage or a floating lagoon. Both options present significant technical and cost challenges.
At between four and 10 metres, the Mersey Estuary has the second-highest tidal range (the difference between the lowest and the highest tides) in the UK. It is second only to the River Severn.
Water from the high tides would be released through turbines as the tide falls, generating power. Previously Mr Rotheram has said the scheme would generate enough electricity to power one million homes for a century. It would have a capacity of up to 5GW.
Earlier this year, officials from the CA travelled to South Korea to meet with K-water. It operates the world’s largest tidal power scheme at Sihwa Lake.
On Tuesday Jeong kyeongyun, vice president of K-water, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Mr Rotheram to share knowledge with the CA to help the Mersey project become a reality. This will lead to reciprocal visits and information sharing.
Mr Rotheram said on Tuesday: “For as long as I can remember, there has been talk of building a tidal barrage on the Mersey. Thanks to devolution – we’re working to make it a reality.
“There are still huge technical and financial challenges to overcome but Mersey Tidal Power has the potential to provide enough clean, green, predictable energy to power up to one million homes for over a century.
“The case for tidal has never been clearer – both for our economy and our planet, especially given the importance of energy security following Putin’s murderous invasion of Ukraine.
“We’ve set ourselves an ambitious target to reach net zero by 2040 at the latest – a decade before national government – and with an abundance of natural assets and advantages on our doorstep, I believe we have the capability to smash those targets.
“We want to take inspiration from trailblazers around the world, who are already leading the way in tidal energy, and our agreement with K-water is a massive step on our journey to bringing this project to life.”
In July this year LBN reported that Mr Rotheram was facing a battle with Whitehall to keep his Mersey tidal power scheme alive.
He claimed the Government was judging the project on a 40-year return on investment. With the tidal plant potentially providing power for more than 100 years he claims this methodology is unfair.
The agreement with K-water is part of a wider strengthening of links between the Liverpool city region and South Korea.
As part of the UK-Republic of Korea Innovation Twins Programme, the city region is developing links with Busan, South Korea’s second largest city.
The programme is aimed at developing long-term research and innovation links, creating a pipeline of opportunities for bilateral trade and foreign direct investment.