Hunt for Mersey Tidal technical advisor and designer begins
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is looking to hire a team to tackle the next phase of work on the large renewable energy project that is predicted to be able to power up to a million homes and create thousands of jobs.
Mersey Tidal is a key part of the combined authority’s strategy to be net zero by 2040. It is set to be located either on the River Mersey or in Liverpool Bay.
LCR has spent two years doing technical work to understand what the project was capable of delivering, conduct initial energy and hydrodynamic modelling, perform cost analysis, engage the supply chain and develop funding models. It had appointed Arup, ABPmer, BECG and Grant Thornton to create an outline business case for the project as well.
A conceptual design for the scheme has also been developed. It is this design that LCR is hoping to add more detail to, including adding design and spatial requirements, materials and embedded carbon stats. The required work includes 3D modelling and the creation of a construction programme that outlines the costs required for the scheme.
“Delivering a tidal power scheme is a huge technical and engineering undertaking but with a huge prize at the end – the generation of clean, predictable, reliable energy for over 100 years,” said Mersey Tidal project director Martin Land.
“The specialist technical and design development work we are looking to commence will help us build on the work already done and enable us to better understand how we marry up inherent renewable power of the Mersey with the latest clean generation technology.”
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram shared why now was an important time to continue work on Mersey Tidal.
“Given the cost of living crisis we’re seeing from skyrocketing gas prices and the race against the clock we face to save our planet, there has never been a better time to develop and invest in new sources of clean, renewable energy,” he said.
“Mersey Tidal Power will be a project of international significance, whose success would have major implications for the global energy market… It would also create thousands of well-paid local jobs and apprenticeships in its construction and operation, as well as pioneering research opportunities,” he continued.
Rotheram said the authority would retain a public ownership stake in Mersey Tidal and would consider establishing a publicly owned energy company to sell the produced power.
“This would be another string to our impressive bow when it comes to green energy,” Rotheram said. “Alongside our existing strengths in wind and hydrogen power, I believe we have the potential to be the UK’s Renewable Energy Coast.”
Rotheram went on to explain how the project would be funded.
“We will put our money where our mouth is but we also need to secure investment from the private sector and, crucially, from government,” he said. “If levelling up is a serious proposition they should be looking to invest in cutting edge schemes like this.”
LCR aims to begin construction on Mersey Tidal in 2027.
