Mersey tidal power scheme location confirmed between Wirral and Liverpool

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 16:19 · Archive

A 1.5 mile stretch of the River Mersey between Bromborough and Otterspool has been chosen as the preferred location for a tidal power scheme.

The area between Bromborough in Wirral and Otterspool in Liverpool has been identified as the preferred location for a tidal power scheme that could become the world's largest. The 1.5 mile stretch of the River Mersey would be developed following a detailed technical appraisal of alternative options and engagement with key stakeholders.

The scheme has the potential to harness the Mersey's tidal range, which reaches up to 10 metres and is the second highest in the UK. If approved, it could generate up to one gigawatt of green electricity for 120 years, whilst also helping to protect homes, businesses and vital infrastructure from rising sea levels.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be asked to approve the preferred alignment corridor at its meeting on 6 November. If approved, the project would progress to the next phase of engineering, environmental and commercial development work towards a future Development Consent Order application.

No construction work will take place until a Development Consent Order is granted and a final investment decision is made. The tidal power scheme has been a long-time ambition for Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who said: "For as long as I can remember, people have talked about harnessing the power of the River Mersey. Identifying where the barrage could be built is a major step forward for a project that has the potential to be genuinely transformational – not just for our region, but for the country."

A tidal power scheme for the River Mersey was mooted since 2005 but was put on hold in 2011 when deemed not profitable enough in the medium term to attract investment. The plan was revived by Rotheram in 2017 and in 2020 £2.5 million of funding was approved for the project.

How it is being reported

• River Mersey tidal power project location revealedThe preferred site for a proposed tidal power scheme on the River Mersey has been revealed.BBC Merseyside · 30 Oct, 13:50
• Wirral selected for 'once-in-a-generation' scheme producing gigawatt of clean energyBROMBOROUGH has been chosen as the preferred Wirral location for what could become the largest tidal power scheme in the world.Wirral Globe · 30 Oct, 08:49
• New location confirmed for massive Mersey tidal power projectPlans moving forward for vast Mersey tidal scheme, with map showing where leaders now want to build the multi-billion pound projectLiverpool Echo · 29 Oct, 19:08

In this story: River Mersey · Bromborough · Otterspool · Liverpool · Wirral · Steve Rotheram · Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log