Nicholas Day disagrees with Guernsey Gas claims about tidal power costing so much money.

GUERNSEY GAS has been accused of plucking figures out of the air in its criticism of the energy policy.
The row intensified yesterday when steering group member Professor Nicholas Day denied the company’s claims that it would cost the island £990m.
He also rebutted the accusation that electricity imported from France was highly dependent on fossil fuels because it relied on the European grid.
‘Guernsey Gas’s claim is false and they don’t know how much it would cost,’ he said.
According to one approach that was clearly stated in the policy, the States would not incur the major capital costs of tidal power, but would attract investment from energy companies to cover them, he said.
‘The energy company, perhaps EDF Energy or npower, or whichever, would in return receive income from the electricity generated at a level set to make the investment attractive.’
That approach was being taken all over Europe, he said.
‘For example, Guernsey Gas’s parent energy company, Babcock and Brown, is currently involved in the research and development of wave power off Portugal.’
He said that while a process was in a developmental stage, consumers could expect to pay a premium of a few pence per unit, but once it became established, it should compete with other electricity sources.
‘I think Guernsey Gas have said what they said to protect their market position. As most people will say, their product has a limited long-term future.’
The accusation that electricity from France was  highly dependent on fossil fuels because it came from all over the European grid was also misleading, said Professor Day.
‘Electricity supplied by EDF is overwhelmingly generated in France, 90% of which comes from very low-emission sources, either nuclear or renewable.’
He said that, contrary to Guernsey Gas claims, CO2 emissions associated with cable-link power were only one third of those from the company’s liquid propane gas.
Professor Day said his argument was based on facts and figures from the French equivalent to the UK national grid.
He thought the States debate on the energy policy White Paper would be of considerable importance for the island’s future.
‘It is not well served by extravagantly inaccurate assertions from Guernsey Gas,’ he said.