During Prime Minister’s Question time yesterday (Wednesday), Isle of Wight Conservative MP Andrew Turner asked the PM for his support for the proposed Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) on the Isle of Wight.
An application by PTEC for consent for a tidal farm to the south of the Isle of Wight has been submitted to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) this week.
Mr Turner asked,
“Will my right hon. Friend join me in supporting the Perpetuus tidal energy centre, a public-private partnership that will, from the Isle of Wight, give the world its first grid-connected tidal array test facility? This will put the UK at the forefront of tidal energy technology, protect existing jobs and create several hundred new ones.”
PM: “Exactly the sort of exciting initiative we should support”
The Prime Minister replied,
“My hon. Friend makes a very good point, because the UK is now the most attractive market in the world for investment in offshore wind and marine renewables. We want to maintain that world-leading position, harness the economic and environmental benefits it brings and see local centres of expertise.
“From what I can see, the Perpetuus tidal energy centre sounds exactly the sort of exciting initiative we should support.”
World-leading project
Mark Francis, Project Manager for PTEC said,
“We are really excited by this project and the potential it has to benefit not just the Island and its residents, but the UK more widely.
“It will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world, reinforcing the UK’s reputation as world-leaders in the wave and tidal industry.
“We have already undertaken a comprehensive programme of engagement with regulators, the local community and other stakeholders, and will continue to work closely with them as the project progresses. We look forward to working with the MMO and Local Planning Authority during the consent determination process, which is due to end in 2015.”
The application
PTEC has applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Isle of Wight Council (as Local Planning Authority) for permission to construct and operate a tidal energy demonstration site off St Catherine’s Point to the south of the Isle of Wight.
If the submission for consent is successful, then construction could start in late 2016, creating hundreds of jobs say PTEC.
PTEC has also submitted a planning application for a control station on the Flowersbrook site in Ventnor.
Image: © PTEC
