Channel Islands call for co-operation on renewable energy

The Channel Islands should strive to work together on renewable energy provision, according to an Alderney States member.

Island representatives met at the Channel Island Marine Renewable Energy Forum on Monday for a progress report on the issue.

Paul Arditti welcomed the news Alderney had signed up to the forum.

He said it provided a platform to share best practice and invest in the marine turbine industry.

Mr Arditti said the forum was an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas, and promote a stable environment for businesses to invest in the island.

'Premier sites'

He said: "We are about to deploy the first two turbines at the end of this year and this is a major resource for Alderney, we are one of the premier sites for tidal energy worldwide.

"You need commercial interests to enhance that energy and we as a government have to make sure the investors are in no doubt that Alderney is a stable reliable jurisdiction.

"It was gratifying to find at the meeting that the governments are not in competition, we all see we must strive to create the best environment for a thriving international market."

Guernsey's Deputy Minister of Commerce and Employment, Al Brouard, said Guernsey could capitalise on its natural resources when the price and timing were right.

Deputy Brouard added that an agreement on access to the sea bed would need to be carried out with the Crown before Guernsey could build wind or marine turbines, but he said solar power had considerable potential.