A deal has been clinched, paving the way for a huge hydro-electric scheme to harness tidal flows in the River Mersey and produce millions of watts of green energy each year.
Plans for a Mersey Barrage were first outlined in the 1970s but dropped in the face of mounting costs, lack of political backing and opposition from conservationists.
Now the river could be the first in the UK to get a partial barrage after it emerged that the North West Regional Development Agency has commisioned an in-depth feasibility study.
Plans for the barrage had been languishing on drawing boards at Peel Holdings - owners of the Mersey Docks and HArbour Company - for more than four years.
But the green energy proposal has been given new impetus thanks to the need to meet UK Government targets for reducing carbon emissions.
In 2007 the Government’s independent adviser, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), highlighted the Mersey Estuary as one of six potential sites for a barrage.
In the same year a report entitled "Power from the Mersey" was published by Peel Environmental, the North West Regional Development Agency, and the Mersey Basin Campaign.
It said that a Mersey Barrage would generate vast amounts of electricity with estimates that it could provide a significant slice of the UK's entire energy demands.
Plans to build the barrage could be lodged by Peel Holdings as early as next year with the barrage generating electricity by 2020.
The three main options expected to be examined in the feasibility study are:-
* Enclosed Axial Flow Turbines, which can be used in Tidal Power Gates, Tidal Barrages and Tidal Lagoons.
* Open Stream Energy Converters, which can be used in places where there is a fast tidal stream. Tidal velocity will be enhanced using a Tidal Fence or a Constrained Channel.
* Water Wheels installed within a partial barrage to accelerate the flow.
A spokeswoman for the North West Development Agency confirmed that in the last few days terms have been agreed with "preferred bidder" for a feasibility study on the Mersey Barrage.
The spokeswoman said "We have agreed terms with a preferred bidder to carry-out a feasibility study.
"We are currently in a 10-day cooling-off period for that agreement and therefore we are unable to disclose any details at the moment.
"An announcement about the feasibility study will be made in the next few days."
Brian McCarthy, PENRITH around 7 months, 1 week ago