Weekly Intelligence Brief

MCT’s technical director underlines Guernsey’s potential

30 October 2009

Marine Current Turbines’ (MCT) technical director Peter Fraenkel has reportedly indicated that tidal power is ready to come to Guernsey.

According to a report filed by thisisguernsey.com, Fraenkel said Guernsey was better placed than Jersey to make the most of the technology.

“Jersey is tucked away. The Channel funnels the tidal water, but Cap de la Hague gets in the way. The water rushes around the headland causing strong currents around Guernsey and Alderney,” he reportedly said.

For its part, Guernsey Electricity has been taking initiatives to make tidal energy a commercial reality. Guernsey Electricity made an equity investment in Marine Current Turbines in 2004.

Guernsey could start using tidal power on a commercial scale by 2014, one of the island’s ministers had predicted earlier this year. Charles Parkinson, treasury and resources minister, told BBC News there was a lot of interest in harnessing the energy form. But he said he hoped it need not be funded by taxpayers.

It has also been highlighted that tidal power technology is advancing at such speed that the island must quickly establish the correct system to manage offers from companies that want to use Guernsey waters.

Read more:

Guernsey: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/Guernsey

Marine Current Turbines: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/Marine+Current+Turbines