This Is Guernsey

By Joel de Woolfson

Guernsey Electricity managing director Ian Watson, left, and chairman Ken Gregson with the annual report in the power station control room. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0816411)

GUERNSEY Electricity’s carbon emissions rose by more than a third last year.

This came as a direct result of an increase in power generated on-island and is sure to reignite discussions about whether the States should change its energy policy.

The company is governed by a States resolution that says it must use the cheapest energy.

If crude oil is cheap, Guernsey generates from its Vale power station. However, if it is more economical to import energy from France through the cable link, GE uses this ‘greener’ method.

Managing director Ian Watson said the company wanted to source energy in an environmentally friendly way.

But it would come at a cost and he questioned whether islanders could stomach that, especially as Guernsey Electricity has called for further price increases anyway in the wake of a £834,000 loss for last year.

‘It is a government decision,’ he said. ‘If the government moved in that direction, towards reducing on-island emissions by changing that licence condition, we would be fully supportive.

‘But would islanders be prepared for the cost of doing that? That is why it is a political decision.’

As part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, Guernsey Electricity has installed 18,000 automated reader meters and plans to have one in every home by 2011.

The company is also heavily involved in efforts to bring tidal generation to the island. GE is a minority shareholder in UK-based Marine Current Turbines, which has developed the world’s first commercial scale tidal power generator.

The Office of Utility Regulation, which is responsible for setting electricity prices, had previously questioned whether GE had invested in the right technology.

Mr Watson said he was certain it had.

‘At the time of going into the automated metering project we thought it was a good idea and now, with hindsight, it has confirmed to us what a good idea it was,’ he said.

‘We are now a model for other countries who want to follow in our footsteps.

‘With tidal power, we have believed all the way through that we are backing the right technology. However, until it is proven we do not know that.

‘It’s important to remember that we are not committed to Marine Current Turbines. We are open-minded and should another technology prove more efficient we would have no problem switching horses.’

Article posted on 31st July, 2009 - 1.00pm