Plans for a £590 million tidal lagoon in North Wales are forging ahead following two milestone developments.
Mostyn SeaPower Ltd, a subsidiary of the Port of Mostyn, revealed it is 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 more than 100 years.
It has also embarked on a second year of ecological surveys of the priority species of fish, birds and mammals in the Dee Estuary.
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In addition, a review is being held into the layout and position of the lagoon wall and to assess advances in turbine technology.
All of this comes on the heels of news last year that the preliminary findings of a seabed survey were “very encouraging”.
The study concluded that the seabed of the estuary is well suited to bear the weight of the proposed 6.7km lagoon wall, stretching from the breakwater at Mostyn to Point of Ayr in Flintshire.
The 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.
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Jim O’Toole, the managing director of the Port of Mostyn believes it will be one of the biggest infrastructure schemes in North Wales for many years.
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.
Mr O’Toole said: “The studies being carried out are to establish base line data about the ecologically important species in the tidal area of the estuary. This data will provide the information necessary for comparisons to be made of the populations and behaviour of the species when the lagoon becomes operational.
"We expect to continue monitoring the wildlife for several years after the lagoon starts operating.
“Among the species we’ll be looking for in the latest round of surveys will be glass eels, which are unusual because they are believed to migrate only during full moon periods in the months of February, March and April when the tides are at their highest.
“For 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 and measure them before returning them.
“This is an important element in the programme because all this information will be included in the environmental impact statement as part of the process in support of our General Development Order application for the scheme.
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“We expect to complete this study programme at the end of this year and we would hope to get consent by the latter end of 2023.
“In the meantime, we’ve already had two rounds of geophysical surveys and sampling of the sea bed sediment which will enable us to firm up the design for which we’re about to go out to tender.
“To date we have invested heavily without any government funding in getting to this point but we now need support to give potential funders added confidence to invest in the project.”
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