Work will begin to the onshore element of the tidal energy centre at Flowers Brook, Steephill Road in Ventnor this autumn, according to Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC).
OnTheWight got in touch with PTEC to hear their views on the new Labour Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.
A spokesperson for PTEC told OnTheWight,
“We are delighted that tidal has been included in the Government’s energy strategy.
“Our belief in the potential of tidal stream energy began over a decade ago, in 2012, and we still believe it will play a crucial role in achieving a carbon-neutral future for the UK.
“Unlike offshore wind and solar, tidal is an entirely predictable renewable energy resource – and one that our island nation has in abundance.”
Great British Energy
Great British Energy will be backed with £8.3 billion of new money over the next five years to own and invest in clean power projects in regions across the UK.
Although there has been strong focus on offshore and onshore wind and solar in the news reporting, ambitions to harness tidal energy are also included in the plans.
It is estimated PTEC could provide clean energy for up to 15,700 homes, just over 20 per cent of the Island’s housing.
Joint venture
In 2012, the then-Conservative administration signed a joint venture with Perpetuus Energy to develop a world-leading tidal array demonstration site and development centre off the south coast of the Island.
At the start of the project, the Isle of Wight council loaned the company £1 million to help set it up and obtain licences, but later turned down loaning it a further £244,000 to help it secure further funding.
The authority also agreed to selling up to two-thirds of its shares and stepping down from the PTEC board.
Onshore project
Plans were approved for the onshore element back in 2021 and the project team tells OnTheWight they are still aiming to start work at the Flowers Brook site this Autumn.
OnTheWight asked whether a dispute with Red Squirrel Ltd, who own the land that the access road would need to pass over, had been resolved.
A spokesperson for the project told OnTheWight,
“For legal reasons it would be wrong of us to comment on individual cases. We are working with a number of different partners and those conversations are commercially sensitive.”
It’s unclear how this work would impact the annual Ventnor Fringe Festival, which hires the land every summer for two weeks.
Article edit
12/05pm 8th Aug 2024 – Detail about Red Squirrel Ltd added
