When completed in 2011, it surpassed France's 240 MW Rance Tidal Power Station, which was the world's largest for 45 years.

[3] The tidal barrage makes use of a seawall constructed in 1994 for flood mitigation and agricultural purposes.

[2] This slightly unconventional and relatively inefficient approach has been chosen to balance a complex mix of existing land use, water use, conservation, environmental and power generation considerations.

[11] In 2004, seawater was reintroduced in the hope of flushing out contamination; inflows from the tidal barrage were envisaged as a complementary permanent solution.

As of 2007 the power station was planned to provide this indirect environmental benefit, as well as renewable energy.