Wave & tidal power | scoping opinion, marking a crucial step towards
realizing the tidal power scheme. If realized, it could potentially generate clean energy for 120 years and create numerous employment opportunities in both construction and operation phases. “The River Mersey has been the lifeblood of our
region’s fortunes for centuries – and it has an even more vital role to play in our future. Where our area was once a leader in the First Industrial Revolution, we now have an opportunity to seize our chance to become a leader in the Green Industrial Revolution,” said Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. “Mersey Tidal Power has the potential to generate clean, predictable energy for 120 years, create thousands of green jobs and apprenticeships – and all but seal our area’s status as Britain’s Renewable Energy Coast. Beyond the banks of the River Mersey, this is a national infrastructure asset that could position the UK as a global leader in the renewables race and help to turbocharge our net zero ambitions. “We are under no illusions, we know there are still significant technical and financial challenges to overcome, but the plans we’ve agreed mark a huge step on our journey to bringing Mersey Tidal Power to life. Quite simply, the case for tidal has never been clearer – both for our economy and our planet.” The proposed barrage not only promises to
revolutionize the region’s energy landscape but also offers additional benefits such as facilitating a cycling and pedestrian route over the river and bolstering defenses against future flooding risks exacerbated by climate change. Over the past three years, the authority has conducted extensive technical groundwork to outline the scheme’s scope, which could be up and running within a decade, playing a huge role in the region’s push to be net zero carbon by 2040. Councillor David Baines, Portfolio Holder for Net
Zero and Air Quality, highlighted the significance of harnessing the River Mersey’s potential, emphasizing its role in diversifying the region’s clean energy mix and fostering economic resilience. “Existing strengths in wind and solar power and
emerging strengths in hydrogen mean that our city region is already leading the way in developing a cleaner and greener economy. Harnessing the power of the River Mersey to generate green and predictable energy for the next 100 years and more would be an incredible addition to our clean energy mix. We need to ensure we are extremely aware of our sensitive local ecology but just reaching this stage in the Mersey Tidal Power project has taken a huge amount of hard work allied with vision and would be a big step towards it becoming a reality,” Baines said.
Marine Energy Council announces lead partners
The Marine Energy Council (MEC) has announced 13 companies which have joined as Lead Partners to support its aim to make the UK the world leader in tidal stream and wave energy. The MEC, established in 2018, has been instrumental in improving
the investment landscape for marine energy in the UK. This includes securing three successive tidal stream ringfences and raising the profile of wave energy’s role in the future energy mix. The MEC has undergone an exciting period of growth, with members joining from across the world working to realise marine energy’s potential. To support the organisation increasing its activity the MEC introduced a Lead Partnership model for 2024/25. MEC’s Lead Partners are the industry leaders in tidal stream and
wave energy, representing the most innovative companies and organisations working at the forefront of realising the UK’s 30GW+ of marine energy potential. Lead Partners will play a key role in the MEC’s future, taking positions on the MEC’s Board, and will provide strategic direction to the MEC’s activities. The Lead Partners are: CorPower Ocean: a Swedish wave energy company with a pilot- project currently deployed in Portugal and a 5MW array planned in Ireland. The European Marine Energy Centre: first established in 2003 EMEC is the world’s leading test centre and has delivered over £370 million GVA to the UK economy. HydroQuest: a leading tidal stream company that has piloted its 1MW array turbine for two years in France. HydroWing: secured a 10MW tidal stream contract in the Government’s latest renewable auction and recently opened up new offices in North Wales to support project delivery. Leask Marine: international marine contractors that have completed over 900 major offshore projects around the world. Magallanes Renovables: a Spanish tidal stream company that has
secured over 10MW renewable contracts to deliver projects in Scotland and Wales. Minesto: with operations in Wales, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Northern Ireland and Taiwan, Minesto is a Nasdaq-listed tidal stream kite company, playing a leading role in delivering the Faroe Islands’ ambition to deliver a decarbonised energy system by 2030. Morlais: Anglesey-based tidal stream energy project with 240MW of capacity. Nova Innovation: a marine energy company and experts in tidal stream, floating solar and marine services. In 2023, Nova Innovation secured Horizon Europe funding to deliver SEASTAR and install 16 tidal turbines at EMEC in Orkney. Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult: innovation centre for offshore renewable energy in the UK. Spiralis Energy: an Earthshot Prize nominee tidal developer that successfully tested its axial skelter prototype in May 2024. Spiralis is seeking to deploy its first array comprised of turbines made of recycled plastic, survivable for 25 years in the ocean. Scottish Renewables: the voice of Scotland’s renewable energy industry. Wave Energy Scotland: a Scottish Government programme that has supported over 130 projects, committing £50m to 300 separate organisations, across 18 countries. Sue Barr, Chair of the MEC welcomed the new Lead Partners: “Tidal stream and wave energy can have a key role in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. The MEC was created to give tidal stream and wave energy a voice and support efforts to make the UK attractive to investors and technology developers from around the world. “Thanks to the support of our Lead Partners our work can continue. With a world-leading pipeline of tidal stream projects, and significant wave energy resource, I look forward to working with the Lead Partners and the new Board in realising the UK’s marine energy potential.”
38 | August 2024 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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