The developer of a proposed large-scale tidal barrier scheme in north-west England has appointed Mott MacDonald as an advisor.
The Northern Tidal Power Gateways project would involve the construction of barrage schemes across Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary. The schemes would not only generate a combined 6600 GWh/year, but would also improve transport links in the region through the construction of new road links.
The two schemes would cost around £8 billion to build, according to Northern Tidal Power Gateways. Mott MacDonald will analyse how the wider economic benefits of the scheme can be captured and realised.
Its appointment follows a recent review into tidal lagoon technologies by Charles Hendry, former Energy Minister, which concluded that the UK’s tidal resources are a potentially reliable and affordable source of energy.
Earlier in February, renewable energy firm Atlantis signed an agreement to work with Natural Energy Wyre (NEW) to develop a tidal barrier project in Lancashire, England.
“Our team will be responsible for investigating all the opportunities made possible by this development, as well as understanding the challenges that will need to be overcome to make the project feasible,” said David Stork, Mott MacDonald’s project director. “Mott MacDonald also works on large hydropower projects around the world so we’ll be bringing that extensive expertise to the project.”
Northern Tidal Power Gateways is the brainchild of Alan Torevell, chair of Dewhurst Torevell, who said: “We have been engaged in promoting this project for over four years with substantial help from the University of Lancaster, the National Environmental Research Council and others along the way.
“It is hoped that before the end of Autumn 2017 there will be sufficient confidence to move into the feasibility phase of the project, where all the necessary planning requirements will need to be met and any remaining environmental concerns alleviated, to enable a start to be made.”
Under the partnership deal, Enbridge also has an option to participate in EnBW’s Albatross wind farm. EnBW’s Board is expecting to take a final investment decision on this project in early 2017.
EnBW said in a statement that the 116 MW Albatross project could be executed alongside Hohe See in order to bring cost savings in the projects’ construction phase.
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