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Peel Energy is in the process of assembling a team to help identify, design and gain consent for a tidal power scheme in the Mersey estuary. The company aims to complete the appointment of the team by June 2009.
Tidal energy from the Mersey Estuary could provide enough electricity to supply up to 260,000 homes: a substantial portion of the energy needs of Liverpool and Merseyside. The estuary is an ecologically diverse and internationally important area; this will be recognised in any proposed scheme.
The primary objective of the power from the Mersey scheme is to deliver the maximum amount of affordable energy (and a maximum contribution to carbon reduction targets) from the tidal resource in the Mersey Estuary with acceptable impacts on the environment, shipping, business and the community by either limiting direct impacts or providing acceptable mitigation and/or compensation.
An initial study completed in 2007 confirmed that there are several viable options. The next phases of the project will identify a preferred option and progress it to the point of being able to apply for the necessary consents and licenses in 2011. The aim is to deliver power from the River Mersey by 2020.
Initial discussions have taken place with Natural England and the Environment Agency as part of early environmental scoping work that will help to inform the selection of the preferred option. Bird surveys are being undertaken within the estuary to establish a data set to support the assessment of options. An environmental advisory group will be formed to continue the input from key stakeholders once the project team has been appointed.
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