£200m tidal energy power station set for Wyre

Natural Energy Wyre has launched the UK’s first Estuary Tidal Barrage project spanning the river Wyre.

The deal, granting exclusivity rights to build a tidal barrage across the river Wyre, means that the project managed by Natural Energy Wyre is now able to move forward to the funding and planning application stage.

Bob Long, managing director of Natural Energy Wyre, said:“This is a real milestone in the project, it’s one of the most exciting stages now and gives us the green light to move forward with the next stage in developing a clean renewable energy project right here in the North West of the UK.

The project will now move forward with securing the £10m stage one funding which is needed for full completion of the planning application with the project based on proven current turbine and energy production technologies covering the 600m span of the mouth of the river with six turbines.

The project has the support of many key stakeholders including Wyre Council, cross party support at Lancashire County Council, Arup, Lancaster University, Andritz Hydro and leading environmental consultants Hyder, as well as the Duchy of Lancaster.

The scheme will also have a profound impact on the surrounding area with a list of benefits including an increase in water based activities on the river, commercial investment due to carbon credit incentives for energy hungry processes, flood defence and the potential creation of thousands of jobs. The next phase is the planning process including full public consultation and then the construction stages. Full construction is anticipated to take three years before the Wyre Tidal Barrage will be fully functioning, producing renewable energy four times a day, on the turn of the tide, for over 100 years.