An energy industry veteran has been announced as project director for the Mersey Tidal Power scheme, hoped to play a key role in the city region's post coronavirus recovery.
Martin Land, who has worked with multiple blue chip companies and headed up multi billion-pound projects such as the Chinese Nuclear Power Programme, High Speed 1 Rail, has over 30 years' experience.
The project is set to provide thousands of jobs for the Liverpool City Region, with the appointment seen as an important step forward.
Speaking about Martin’s appointment, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Mersey Tidal power has the potential to generate enough energy for up to 1 million homes, create thousands of jobs and make our region Britain’s renewable energy coast.
“This and other long-term infrastructure project are now even more important, playing a key role in our economic recovery and in realising our ambitions for the globally competitive, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economy we are committed to delivering.
“We are at a crucial stage in the process and that is why we have brought Martin in as Project Director. He has a track record of delivering multi-billion pound projects and is the right person to develop Mersey Tidal Power to the point where government backing can make it a reality.”
It is calculated that the Mersey Tidal Power scheme could have the potential to generate up to four times the energy of all of the wind turbines in Liverpool Bay, which would be enough to power up to one million homes, 500 football stadiums, or send an electric train around the world 3,554 times.
Mr Land has previously worked across energy, infrastructure and manufacturing as a client, consultant, equipment manufacturer and contractor, including senior roles with ICI, GEC, Westinghouse, Bechtel, EON, Costain, AECOM, and has left a position with Chester-based sustainable infrastructure specialists Black & Veatch.
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Speaking about his appointment, Mr Land, who is from Cheshire, said: “This is a unique moment, as we face the challenges of rebuilding our post-pandemic economy while reducing emissions and creating new green energy assets for future generations.
“Progressing the Mersey Tidal Power Project is an opportunity that I could not miss out on as we look for the solutions that will make a difference in the future.
“We have the opportunity to position the Liverpool City Region as a world-wide leader in predictable, renewable and long-term generation that will contribute to the 海角视频’s energy mix.”
In February, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved £2.5m in funding to carry out the next phase of work on Mersey Tidal Power and develop a preferred option to take forward to planning
The decision was made on the basis of a year-long study, carried out by a team of industry-leading experts who said there was a "strong strategic case" for taking the project forward to address potential future energy shortfalls, tackle the climate emergency, achieve zero carbon targets, and "support a more stable renewable energy mix".