Plans for a \u00a3590 million tidal lagoon in North Wales are forging ahead following two milestone developments.<\/p>\n
Mostyn SeaPower Ltd, a subsidiary of the Port of Mostyn, revealed they are\u00a0 now going out to tender for review of the initial design and costings for the scheme that would create 300 construction jobs and employ 35 people during its operational life of over 100 years.<\/p>\n
They have also embarked\u00a0 on a second year of ecological surveys of the priority species of fish, birds and mammals in the Dee Estuary.<\/p>\n
In addition, a review is being held into the layout and position of the lagoon wall and to assess advances in turbine technology.<\/p>\n
All of this comes on the heels of news last year that the preliminary findings of a seabed survey were \u201c very encouraging\u201d.<\/p>\n
The study concluded that the seabed\u00a0 of\u00a0 the estuary\u00a0 is well-suited to bear the weight\u00a0 of the proposed 6.7 kilometre lagoon wall, stretching from the breakwater at Mostyn to Point of Ayr in Flintshire.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0 renewable energy scheme would provide low carbon electricity for 82,000 homes as well as four miles of flood defences for homes, businesses and the strategically important Crewe to Holyhead railway line and A548 Coast Road.<\/p>\n
Jim O\u2019Toole, the managing director of the Port of Mostyn believes it will\u00a0 be one of the biggest infrastructure schemes in North Wales\u00a0 for many years.<\/p>\n
As well as helping the regional economy to bounce back after being hammered by the pandemic, it would also address the increasingly serious climate crisis and soaring energy costs.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Toole said: \u201cThe studies being carried out are to establish base line data about the ecologically important species in the tidal area of the estuary.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis data will provide the information necessary for comparisons to be made of the populations and behaviour of the species when the lagoon becomes operational.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect to continue monitoring the wildlife for several years\u00a0 after the lagoon starts operating .<\/p>\n
\u201cAmong the species we\u2019ll be looking\u00a0 for in the latest round of surveys will be\u00a0 glass eels which\u00a0 are unusual because they\u00a0 are believed to migrate only during full moon periods in the months of February, March and April when the tides are at their highest.\u00a0 .<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the surveys we have fitted a specially designed net to our boat the Eileen that will go out and trawl for the glass eels like an ordinary fishing boat would. On board will be our own local crew and three marine biologist who will haul in the catch and inspect\u00a0 and measure them before returning them back into the estuary.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an important element in the programme because all this information\u00a0 will be included in the environmental impact statement as part of the process in support of our General Development Order\u00a0 application for the scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect to complete this study programme at the end of this year and we would hope to get consent\u00a0 by the\u00a0 latter end of 2023. .<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the meantime, we\u2019ve already had two rounds of geophysical surveys and sampling of the sea bed sediment which will enable us to firm up\u00a0 the design for which we\u2019re about to go\u00a0 out to tender.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo date we have invested heavily without any government funding in getting\u00a0 to this point but we now\u00a0 need support\u00a0 to give potential funders added confidence to invest in the project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Toole said that the port had taken\u00a0 a similar path 17 years ago when offshore wind power was in its infancy.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cMostyn is the birthplace of UK\u2019s offshore wind industry and to date around 500 offshore turbines have been installed from the port.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK\u2019s first commercial wind farm, North Hoyle off Prestatyn, which has 30 turbines is still operating.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re proposing with our tidal lagoon is to replicate that approach with a demonstrator project which will have a design life in excess of 100 years whereas the design life of a wind turbine is in the order of 25 to 30 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are proposals for eight other lagoons around the Welsh coast which has\u00a0 the benefit of high tidal ranges making it\u00a0\u00a0 extremely well suited for this form of renewable energy. .<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven our current energy crisis with\u00a0 electricity costs, continually increasing, investing in predictable tidal power that\u2019s not reliant on the sun to shine or the wind to blow would appear to be\u00a0 a logical solution in terms of securing a long-term stable supply.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of our project\u2019s progress , we\u2019re on time and\u00a0 on budget and if we get the go-ahead, it will be the gift that keeps on giving for a century or more.\u201d<\/p>\n