Mott MacDonald has been appointed as advisor to the Northern Tidal Power Gateways project across Morecombe Bay and the Duddon estuary in northwest England.
Initial studies by Northern Tidal Power Gateways have found that the gateway at Morecambe Bay could produce 6500GWh of electricity a year, while the Duddon Estuary gateway could create 100GWh of electricity each year, Mott MacDonald said.
The project has estimated costs of £8bn and could create more than 7500 construction jobs.
Mott MacDonald will analyse how the wider economic benefits of the scheme can be captured and realised.
In addition to the power generated from renewables, there is also potential to improve both transport infrastructure and connectivity in the areas, the company added.
Mott MacDonald project director David Stork said: “Our team will be responsible for investigating all the opportunities made possible by this development, as well as understanding the challenges that will need to be overcome to make the project feasible.”
Alan Torevell chair of Dewhurst Torevell and brainchild behind the Northern Tidal Power Gateways project said: “It is hoped that before the end of Autumn 2017 there will be sufficient confidence to move into the feasibility phase of the project, where all the necessary planning requirements will need to be met and any remaining environmental concerns alleviated, to enable a start to be made.”
Image: sxc
MottMac clocks on for UK tidal
Gateway projects planned for Morecombe Bay and the Duddon estuary
By EBS