Tapping the Tidal Power Potential of the Eastern Irish Sea

A two-year study is underway led by the University of Liverpool in partnership with POL to evaluate the renewable energy potential of the eastern Irish Sea. The project has been funded by the Northwest Development Agency and the Joule Centre, a consortium of North West universities and businesses.

The team is assessing whether a combination of barrages, built across the estuaries of the Dee, Mersey, Ribble, Morecambe Bay and the Solway Firth, together with tidal stream turbine arrays (underwater 'wind' turbines) and nearshore tidal lagoon installations, could harness enough power from the tides to offer 24-hour electricity generating capability. Early estimates suggest that there is potential to meet at least half of the region's electricity needs.

Aside from generating energy from the tides, the barrages could be used to site further wind or wave power devices, and there would be further important ancillary benefits. Not only would the barrages offer coastline protection from the sea, important as sea levels rise, but they could also protect low-lying areas inland from increasing floods by 'draining' the estuary to low tide level upon the onset of a flood forecast. There would also be significant transport benefits from opening up new highway routes to ease road congestion, as well as tourism and amenity opportunities. However we also need to assess the potential impacts on the environment and ecosystem. POL models are being used to estimate the changes in the tide and residual flows which may lead to changes in flushing time and habitats within the estuaries and the potential for wider impacts in the Irish Sea.

POL personnel: Judith Wolf, Roger Proctor, Jason Holt.

La Rance picture

Tidal stream device