Planning permission for the onshore elements of the Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre at Ventnor has been granted by the Isle of Wight Council, paving the way for the project to be fully up and running by 2026.
The Council last night (Tuesday) approved the construction of a substation within the Southern Water Services compound at Flowersbrook.
It’s said that the approval is a huge boost to the UK’s renewable energy sector, with PTEC now having all the consents in place to proceed with their proposal – England’s first multi-megawatt tidal stream power generation project.
By placing tidal turbines in the sea off Ventnor, the project will supply predictable, renewable energy direct to the national grid. This planning approval is particularly timely given the government’s announcement in November that it will support the tidal energy sector. It has committed to give £20 million per year in the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) round, which opened yesterday.
Rob Stevens, Chairman of PTEC, said:
“At a time when the world’s reliance on fossil fuels is causing significant challenges, gaining permission for the onshore elements of the PTEC project is of national importance. Tidal energy is now a proven route to continuous, clean energy generation and has enormous potential. The government’s commitment comes at the perfect time, enabling the UK to take advantage of this source of carbon neutral energy generation.
“Once we have government support in place we can start work, with the aim to begin operations in 2025. Throughout the planning process, we’ve offered multiple opportunities and avenues for stakeholders and residents to engage with us, and their feedback has helped us shape our proposal. Going forward regular consultation and engagement will be fundamental to the construction process to make it as smooth as possible.”
This project has been in development since 2012. The local authority originally agreed permission for the onshore elements of the project in June 2015, and the Marine Management Organisation gave the offshore plans the go-ahead in April 2016. However, a change in government policy in 2016 put the plans temporarily on hold. One result of the delay was that the onshore planning application needed to be resubmitted.
Onshore construction work is anticipated to commence in 2023, for completion by 2025. In line with the commitments made during the public consultation process, PTEC will work with local residents and businesses to ensure minimal disturbance.
The PTEC project will bring economic growth to the Isle of Wight, creating an innovative new industry sector for the Island and renewed attention to this part of the UK, as well as helping the Isle of Wight Council achieve the targets it has set in its recently published ‘Mission Zero Climate and Environment Strategy 2021 – 2040’.
Will I be able to boil my kettle ,when the tide is out ?
Yes
We need to have global help and the sea has it it, is always there day and night and the sea does not go down as the sun does so YES GO AHEAD AND GET IT DONE AS OF YESTERDAY.BARBARA DEBENHAM.
This is good news.
Hope it works out
How exactly is this going happen when the landowners of the access land are not giving permission for access?
what a great idea !! and so much better than large wind turbines spoiling the landscape !!
Or those ugly solar panels blighting the countryside !
If you look at a turbine spoiling the landscape then go and visit Germany.. They have many turbines, you look at them, they are free energy. Oh if you ever get there, look for the gum spots on the pavement. NONE. The German people have worked it all out.
Needed but not sure this is the right place what about the Solent i think the tides are stronger there wouldn’t want to see flowers brook spoilt any more than it has been i remember the putting green on Sunday afternoons the good old days
A ray of hope. Common sense prevails at last.