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This from Rear Admiral Rob Stevens, Chairman, Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre. Ed
The past week has certainly been a wake-up call for all of us. Anyone that has spent time queuing at a petrol station cannot fail to sense our vulnerability in this growing energy crisis.
It’s time to do things differently and we need to act now. Oil and gas stocks imports are limited and using them is irreversibly damaging the planet. The UK recognises that it has too little control over energy supplies plus, with the COP26 summit next month, carbon reduction is now an urgent global priority.
The Island has a big role to play here: the seas around its coastline have the capacity to power thousands of homes using a totally reliable, renewable and carbon-free energy source: the tide.
PTEC’s onshore planning application
The Isle of Wight Council is on the brink of an important decision for the Island and the UK. Its Planning Committee will soon be considering the onshore planning application for the Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC).
Approval will mean that by 2025 the tides around St Catherine’s Point will be a ground-breaking source of totally reliable tidal power, generated by British-made, low freeboard turbines in the sea, 2.5km from Ventnor.
A crucial step forward
This is a crucial step forward for the UK and the Island, generating jobs, new technical insights and bringing significant inward investment.
Results from our consultation this summer found 88 per cent of local people support the development of renewable energy. But a highly vocal, small group of residents are threatening to let their personal views stand in the way of a huge opportunity for the Isle of Wight.
The benefits
Our Website explains how PTEC will work and the huge benefits it will bring – as well as responding to misinformation circulating around the project.
This is a turning point, not just for the Islanders of today, but for generations to come.
Image: Alejo Storni under CC BY 2.0
