Consultation set to begin on world’s largest tidal power scheme that could power thousands of homes across the region for more than 100 years. Tony McDonough reports.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced the first public consultation on The Mersey Tidal Project.
The scheme – the “first of a kind” in the UK – has been backed by Maritime Minister Mike Kane, and could generate clean, predictable energy for 120 years and create thousands of jobs in its construction and operation.
A six-week public consultation on the scheme will begin on October 1, offering local people and organisations the opportunity to comment on initial proposals for a tidal barrage across the River Mersey and its associated infrastructure.
Feedback from the consultation will help develop project proposals and will be considered alongside ongoing engineering design and environmental assessment work.
A report to the Combined Authority’s meeting in March revealed the city region is pursuing a barrage between the Wirral and Liverpool as the preferred option for the Mersey Tidal Power project.
The Mersey Tidal Power scheme would use the powerful tides of the Mersey Estuary to generate emissions-free electricity. It is an idea that has been around since 1924 but has been given fresh impetus by the Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram.
He said: “The Mersey Tidal Project is one of the most challenging schemes to deliver due to the environmental, ecological and economic considerations, but it’s potential to generate clean, green and predictable energy would be worth all the effort we are putting into this planning stage.
“The River Mersey has been the lifeblood of our region’s fortunes for centuries, and today marks another important milestone in its future. With the launch of our first public consultation and the start of the formal planning process, Mersey Tidal Power is moving closer to reality than at any stage in our history.
“This project has the potential to power hundreds of thousands of homes with renewable energy for 120 years while creating thousands of green jobs.
“It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cement our position as Britain’s Renewable Energy Coast and help lead the global charge to net zero. This is about much more than just an energy generation scheme—it’s a chance to build a lasting legacy for our people and our planet.”
The March report noted that a barrage option would be less expensive than a man-made lagoon, requiring less material and more appropriate levels of government support.
Over the last three years, the authority has undertaken early technical work to develop the potential scope of the scheme, which could be up and running within a decade, playing a huge role in the region’s push to be net zero carbon by 2035 – at least a decade ahead of national targets.
It also opens the possibility of a first-ever cycling and pedestrian route over the river between Liverpool and Wirral and could provide a defence against future flooding risks associated with climate change.
Mersey Tidal Power would add to offshore wind, hydrogen and solar projects as the city region becomes the UK’s Renewable Energy Coast – providing greater domestic energy security.
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Councillor Anthony Burns, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Net Zero, said: “We are already leading the way in developing a cleaner and greener economy, with existing wind and solar power capacity and emerging strengths in hydrogen.
“Harnessing the power of the River Mersey to generate green and predictable energy for more than 100 years would be an incredible addition to our clean energy mix. I would encourage anyone interested in the project to get involved with the consultation and let us know what they think.”
The project will also be discussed at the forthcoming Labour Party conference.