Don’t pour cold water on tidal power

By Nigel Baudains

THE regulator should not discourage progress on renewable energy, according to Environment minister David De Lisle. It was, said Deputy De Lisle, the key to the future.

But Office of Utility Regulation director-general John Curran said this week that tidal power might be too expensive for Guernsey.

He said that energy efficiency was the way to reduce the island’s carbon footprint.

‘Mr Curran is absolutely right that everybody can do things to reduce energy loss but at the same time he should not be choking progressive thinking, because that’s the way forward,’ said Deputy De Lisle.

Speaking on Guernsey Electricity’s response to the States’ energy policy Green Paper, Deputy De Lisle said: ‘We have valuable resources here that we are not harnessing, namely the wind, waves and tide.’

He believed the island could work with the French Government or private enterprise because progressing renewables would be expensive and it would need partners.

‘The renewable sector was a niche market but now it’s getting the backing of major energy companies, coupled with global governments all needing local, clean and secure energy,’ said Deputy De Lisle.

‘The renewable-energy market is set for dramatic growth.’

The Bailiwick’s wind, waves, and tide were now the richest resource of non-polluting power in Europe.

That sat well with global targets for renewable energy of 10% by 2010 and 20% by 2020.

‘We must make plans to exploit all forms of offshore tide and wind power with a view to self-sufficiency and to take advantage of the cable link for energy exports in future,’ said Deputy De Lisle.

The island should be encouraging home owners to generate their own electricity with domestic wind turbines, solar panels and the like, he said.

That would reduce power-generation emissions.

Deputy De Lisle said that he was putting forward his own views but that his department had been working in that direction by providing information aimed at assisting householders with applications for micro wind-generation systems.

* The Energy Policy Steering Group has met for the first time since the period for submissions to its consultation process ended.

Chairman Bernard Flouquet said his group hoped to deliver its report to the Policy Council before the general election. He hoped the new Policy Council would be able to take it forward within its first three months in office. ‘We had good responses from the utilities and private individuals. This is a big issue,’ Deputy Flouquet said.