The area between Bromborough in Wirral and Otterspool in Liverpool has been revealed as the preferred development zone for what could be the world's largest tidal power scheme.
At a meeting next week, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be asked to approve a plan that would see a vast new tidal power project created in a 1.5-mile stretch of the River Mersey, covering both the Liverpool and Wirral banks.
The decision would enable the project, a long-term ambition for Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, to progress to the next phase of engineering, environmental and commercial development work towards a future Development Consent Order (DCO) application.
Preferred Location and Next Steps
The preferred location, or alignment corridor, was chosen following engagement with key stakeholders and a detailed technical appraisal of the options. The appraisal also recommended that further work should focus on refining the barrage to align with navigation channels to the side of the barrage, as well as lock-based options.
No construction work will take place until a DCO is granted and a final investment decision is made.
Mayor Steve Rotheram 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."
He added: "At a time when events around the world can send energy prices soaring, we need to make better use of the resources we have on our own doorstep. We should be generating more of our own energy, strengthening our energy security and creating good jobs here at home. The Mersey has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the country and we have the industrial expertise and the ambition to help do something genuinely world-leading."
Public Engagement and Funding Model
Plans are being prepared for a second public engagement in late 2027 or early 2028, which would give local people and communities an opportunity to have their say and shape plans for the scheme. A first public engagement in 2024 attracted more than 3,000 responses, with 84% backing the project and 92% supporting the need for more renewable energy to be produced in the Liverpool City Region.
At the same meeting next week, the Combined Authority will also be asked to adopt a Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model as the preferred option to fund the project, following the completion of a Finance Model Update. A RAB funding model is a way of paying for large infrastructure projects, such as nuclear power stations, water networks or major transport schemes.
Instead of waiting until a project is finished before the organisation developing the asset starts earning money, the RAB model allows it to start recovering some of its costs from customers while the project is being built. That reduces costs for investors and the public purse and offers stable, regulated returns over time.
Project Scale and Benefits
The Mersey Tidal Power Project, if built, is planned to be the largest tidal range power plant in the world, generating up to 1 gigawatt of clean, green electricity for 120 years. The Combined Authority says it would create thousands of jobs in its construction and operation and position the Liverpool City Region as the "UK's epicentre for tidal manufacturing and associated supply chains."
The River Mersey has a tidal range of up to 10 metres, the second highest in the UK, and a uniquely-shaped estuary, making leaders believe it is perfectly suited for the scheme, which would generate electricity based on the difference in water level either side of a barrage.
In January this year, the Combined Authority announced that, following detailed analysis of updated Environment Agency flood maps, the project would become a dual infrastructure scheme offering flood protection from rising sea levels as well as clean energy. It is believed that a tidal barrage could play a crucial role in protecting homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure across the region.
Councillor Angela Ball, Cabinet Member for Energy and Environment, said: "The Mersey Tidal Power Project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver clean, affordable energy while protecting our communities and the local environment from the impacts of climate change. It's an iconic solution that will benefit our region for decades to come."
The Mersey Tidal Power Project, classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project under the Planning Act 2008, is currently in Phase 4 of development, which includes environmental assessments, engineering design, and preparation for a Development Consent Order submission. While the Final Investment Decision is now expected in 2030, the Combined Authority says it continues to work with government and partners to accelerate progress.
