Waves keep the lights on for island running on tidal power

A WELSH island is on course to be the first area of Britain to be completely powered by tidal energy, as the Government unveils plans to roll out the renewable resource across the country.

Bardsey Island off North Wales will be powered entirely by waves and it is hoped it will produce surplus energy to be sent to the mainland.

The island, which only has four yearround residents, is a wildlife haven and home to puffins, seals, and manx shearwaters but relies on diesel to power its handful of buildings.

Nova Innovation says the project will switch the island from a dependency on diesel generation to “become the world’s first blue energy island”.

The company is to install five 100 kilowatt turbines on the seabed to harness tidal power and says they will be hidden from view.

The Department f or Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy told The Daily Telegraph that it envisioned the renewable resource being able to supply 10 per cent of the UK’S energy.

The Government is open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around Britain’s coastlines, including barrages and other alternatives.

Tidal differs from other renewable sources in that it is predictable but intermittent as tides and currents vary around the country, while solar and wind output is weather-dependent and more difficult to predict. This means there is less risk of blackouts, which are sometimes seen with wind power.

A BEIS spokesman said: “The UK is a world-leader in exploring marine technologies that harness the clean, natural energy of our tides and the Government has a long history of supporting the development of marine technologies.

“We have committed to ensuring net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and we are taking every opportunity to continue the UK’S fantastic track record for tackling climate change as we build back greener from the pandemic.”

The environmental audit committee is launching an inquiry into the possibility of a faster and more comprehensive roll-out of blue energy as testing of tidal power generation continues.