Isle of Wight residents worried about tidal energy project

Residents of the Isle of Wight have expressed their worries regarding the proposed PTEC tidal project and the visual impact it could have on the scenery of the island.

The residents are particularly concerned over the fact that not all tidal energy generating units are fully submerged – there are various tidal energy generation devices that float on the surface or extend above the water surface.

The locals are unsettled over the possibility of 30 towers sticking out approximately 20 m above water surface, OntheWight news provider reports.

The residents are encouraged to give their feedback regarding the construction of the tidal project, by emailing the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) before midnight on February 20, 2015.

“As the project has not yet gained consent it is too early to know which companies will install their devices at PTEC. It is important to note that all surface piercing tidal device types extend significantly less above the water surface than any offshore wind turbines,” Mark Francis, Project Manager for PTEC, has been quoted as saying by OntheWight.

An application to construct and operate a tidal energy demonstration site has been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council and MMO by Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC).

The site is located off the southern coast of the Isle of Wight, and if consent is granted, the construction could begin in late 2016.

PTEC tidal project has received support from UK’s Prime Minister Dave Cameron. The consent determination process for the PTEC project should be concluded this year.

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Image: PTEC