Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) is considering investing in a large-scale tidal power dam project on the River Mersey in Liverpool, England — a move that could create new opportunities for South Korean builder Daewoo Engineering & Construction (Daewoo E&C), which has previously collaborated with K-water on tidal energy projects.
K-water signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City of Liverpool on November 5 (local time) to explore joint development of the Mersey Tidal Power Barrage Project.
The signing ceremony was attended by Jang Byung-hoon, Executive Director of Water and Environment at K-water; Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool; and Katherine Fairclough, CEO of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Mayor Rotheram said the MOA marks a “significant step forward” in the project’s feasibility assessment, noting that “K-water’s involvement could open the door to potential financial investment.” He added that while government support is still needed, discussions on site selection and construction impact are gaining momentum.
The Mersey Tidal Power Project envisions building a barrage stretching from Liverpool to Wirral, capable of supplying electricity to up to 1 million homes. It is also expected to help mitigate flood risks driven by climate change.
K-water first partnered with Liverpool in 2022, when both sides signed a knowledge-sharing agreement on tidal power development. During that period, K-water exchanged technical expertise with Daewoo E&C, the company behind the construction of the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station — the world’s largest tidal power facility.
The Sihwa Lake plant, completed in 2011 and fully operational since 2012, can generate up to 258 megawatts (MW) of electricity per day, enough to power around 500,000 people annually.
