Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, is looking to generate all its electricity from tidal power within five years. Guernsey Electricity believes the conditions for tidal power exist and that with a viable technology and a suitable regulatory, financial and legal framework, tidal turbines can be easily deployed.
The Channel Islands is known to have some of the best tidal resources in Europe and according to Peter Smith, from the University of Nottingham has the capacity to supply the UK with a third of its tidal energy.
Guernsey Electricity said Alderney States has already voted to go ahead with a tidal energy project and nearby Jersey is also considering tidal power.
Guernsey Electricity spokesman Steve Morris said not only would tidal energy provide a clean source of energy for the island, but it could potentially enable electricity to be exported to Europe.
He said the States would have to establish how the introduction of the technology was supported financially, as initially it would be more expensive than fossil fuel.
Earlier this year, Treasury and Resources Minister Charles Parkinson said while there was a lot of interest in harnessing the power of the sea, he hoped it would not have to funded by taxpayers.
