Peter Fraenkel, of MCT, addressing the Channel Islands Group of Professional Engineers last week. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0861056)
TIDAL power is ready to come to Guernsey, according to mechanical engineer Peter Fraenkel.
He said the technology now worked and money was the only limitation.
Mr Fraenkel was in the island to speak to the Channel Islands Group of Professional Engineers about tidal turbines.
He is technical director of Marine Current Turbines, which runs the only commercial example in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.
Guernsey was better placed than Jersey to make the most of the technology, he said.
‘Jersey is tucked away. The Channel funnels the tidal water, but Cap de la Hague gets in the way. The water rushes around the headland causing strong currents around Guernsey and Alderney.’
Guernsey Electricity has invested in MCT to ensure access to the latest information but Mr Fraenkel did not believe the company was ready to install a turbine.
‘They see it is too good a technology to be ignored,’ he said. ‘Tidal power is a concentrated energy source, as well as being clean and predictable. But it is seen as new, risky and expensive right now. Not until people invest in it will the price come down.’
Mr Fraenkel admitted there have been some problems with the technology, which is two years behind schedule.
‘All new technology has delays,’ he said.
‘Working offshore can be challenging and we are only a small company.’
Last year, a programming error resulted in a rotor blade breaking on the Strangford turbine. It took nearly four months to replace.
Tidal energy is very expensive – Mr Fraenkel estimated the initial cost at between £5m. and £6m. per megawatt.
Nevertheless, he said, the technology would help the island become less dependent on France.
‘The tide does not always run, so there would need to be a back-up source of power,’ he said.
‘But if the island was linked into the grid, it could sell power to France and they [the French] could cover the gaps in the tide.’
Green energy projects in the UK are subsidised but Mr Fraenkel believed the lack of such funding in Guernsey would limit the take-up of tidal power.
After the technology has been set up, he said, running costs were low.
‘This would be a good long-term investment and it has huge potential,’ he said.
‘If Guernsey came in early, it could also become an expert on this technology.
‘That expertise could be used all over the world.’
Article posted on 26th October, 2009 - 2.29pm
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