Race is on to pioneer tidal electricity scheme

Dorset | Archive | 2004 | September | = 14 =

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Race is on to pioneer tidal electricity scheme

From the Echo, first published Tuesday = 14th Sep=20 2004.

AN INVESTIGATION into using Portland Race to generate = electricity has=20 been called for.

The tidal energy could be used to supply the area with power in = the=20 next decade.

A series of turbines could be installed off Portland Bill about = 50=20 metres under the water.

Electricity's future lies in the power of nature, an expert = told=20 councillors.

Simon Roberts, chief executive of the Centre for Sustainable = Energy=20 said: "There is an energy source racing past Portland Bill every = few=20 hours, and we could be tapping into it."

The speed of the Race makes Portland one of few areas in the = country=20 thought to be suitable for tidal turbines because it is close = enough to=20 electricity demand and extreme storm conditions to make a project=20 viable.

Portland Race is caused when strong tidal streams that flow = down either=20 side of the island meet. They break the sea so fiercely that a = continuous=20 disturbance can be seen from the shore.

The irregular depth of the seabed makes the water more violent = and in=20 normal weather the Race extends two miles south of Portland Bill. =

Mr Roberts, a consultant on the Dorset Renewable Energy = Strategy, told=20 members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's environment and = conservation committee that the county could be producing 10 per = cent of=20 its own power by 2010.

"The vast majority of scientists around the world are saying = that=20 climate change is a real threat, which is potentially devastating = to a=20 coastal area like this," he said.

"Even if you are not worried about climate change, there are = other=20 reasons for using renewable energy."

He told the councillors that there would be massive economic = benefits=20 to generating energy in Dorset rather than importing almost all of = the=20 county's electricity from outside.

"Dorset spends =C2=A3365 million per year on energy, not = including on=20 transport," he said. "All of that is going out of the county and = there is=20 no economic recycling of that money."

Shipbuilders could also benefit from underwater turbines which = would=20 need experts to install and maintain them.

Using renewable sources to generate power would help meet the=20 international and national targets to cut emissions of the = 'greenhouse=20 gas' carbon dioxide.

On a visit to Weymouth last week, the leading critic of = windfarms and=20 popular conservationist David Bellamy said: "Without a doubt, = uncontained=20 tidal power is the best type of renewable energy.

"The only people who say no to it are the fishermen, but if you = put the=20 turbine in the right place it doesn't need to be a problem."

Already, there are concerns that turbines could restrict the = catch of=20 bass and shellfish along the Race.

Portland fisherman Ken Lyneham, Southern Sea Fisheries = committee=20 chairman, said: "Using the Race would have a massive impact on the = fishing=20 community.

"We would have to know the full extent of it and what = restrictions may=20 be imposed."

Keith Gillanders is business development adviser for Regen SW, = which=20 was funded by the South West Regional Development Agency to = investigate=20 the potential for tidal power in the region.

He said: "The turbines are at a pre-commercial stage at the = moment, but=20 the ecology is unlikely to be affected.

"They turn very slowly so there should be no problem to sea = creatures=20 and a fairly small amount of energy is taken out of the tide so it = should=20 not affect the coastline. But we don't know yet."

Under the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy several other = renewable=20 sources are being considered, including converting old water mills = to=20 generate enough power for 500 homes.

Photo-voltaic panels to convert the sun's rays into electricity = have=20 been included in the new sailing academy on Portland and could = become=20 standard on new buildings in Dorset.

There are no plans to build wind farms in Areas of Outstanding = Natural=20 Beauty or along the Heritage Coast.

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http://www.thisisdorset.net
=C2=A9=20 Newsquest Media Group 2004

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