The Duchy of Lancaster has granted exclusivity rights to Natural Energy Wyre for the construction of a tidal barrage across the river Wyre in Lancashire, UK. This enables the developer to move to the funding and planning application stage.
The £200m project, managed by Natural Energy Wyre Limited, will have a lifespan of over 120 years and provide electricity for tens of thousands of homes in the UK and will support the National Grid and UK Government in their clean renewable energy objectives, Natural Energy Wyre said.
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.
It will have the benefit of an emergency vehicle access road, pedestrian and cyclist access to each side of the river, a multipurpose learning and development Centre, two lock pits (one for commercial and one for leisure craft) and stunning views out to sea and down river for visitors.
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 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.
Image: Natural Energy Wyre Limited