
"We have shown that we have the skills, capabilities - and the political will - to make Mersey Tidal Power a success," he said. Given the sheer scale of the project, backing from central government in London will undoubtedly be needed, a point Rotheram acknowledged in his statement to CNBC. If fully realized, the project's cost would be significant - the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority calls it a "multi-billion-pound" development. While there is excitement about the plans, a huge amount of work still needs to be done to get the development off the ground.Īmong other things, any design will need to incorporate navigation locks for the significant number of ships, both large and small, that travel along the river. is looking to harness its extensive coastline and become a force in the emerging marine energy sector. Proposals for the Mersey Tidal Power Project represent yet another example of how the U.K. "We know that in developing project options we need to consider the impact of a scheme on the river and estuary and also whether this can help with the regional issue of rising sea levels," he added.

"They can also affect navigation and recreation."Īs previously noted, at the moment it's still to be decided if the scheme planned for the Mersey will be a barrage or lagoon.įor his part, the Mersey Tidal Power Project's Martin Land sought to emphasize that there was "well developed guidance for the environment impact assessment that you have to perform for mega projects. "Tidal barrages can change the tidal level in the basin and increase turbidity (the amount of matter in suspension in the water)," it adds.

Energy Information Administration notes that one "potential disadvantage of tidal power is the effect a tidal station can have on plants and animals in estuaries of the tidal basin." Like many renewable energy projects around the world, concerns have been raised that the development of a major tidal power facility in the Mersey could have a significant effect on the environment.Ĭheshire Wildlife Trust, for instance, states it is "keen to support renewable energy schemes in the right place" but adds that "a barrage scheme in the Mersey Estuary has the potential to cause significant environmental damage." Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower As shown below 9, tidal fences are connected to electrical generators, allowing for energy to be converted into electricity.Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit These fences are often grouped together in order to provide large amounts of power to generators in a condensed area. These are connected with a single structure called a “fence”. Tidal turbines act as a single unit with multiple turbines along the vertical structure.

Tidal fences are a hybrid between tidal barrages and tidal turbines. Tidal turbines are individual turbines that are often placed closely to each other to produce large amounts of energy. This turbine is connected to an electrical generator, allowing for electricity to be stored. A tidal turbine utilizes the tides under water to push against a generator, forcing it to move. Tidal turbines are very similar to wind turbines, however they are located under water. This process allows for energy to be harnessed consistently with the movement of the tides. 8 The force that this water flows with then turns a turbine or forces air pressure through a pipe that in turn, moves the turbine. This method uses a large dam structure, known as a barrage, that forces the tide to flow in and out of tunnels within the dam structure. As the following video 7 explains, Tidal Energy is created through a variety of ways.Īs discussed in the video, tidal barrages are the main source of converting the tidal power into useable energy in the form of electricity.

Tidal Energy converts the natural rising and falling patterns of ocean tides into electricity.
