Tidal power 'has very little eco-impact'

25/08/2010

Tidal power, which could be used as a renewable source to help reduce business energy costs, is one of the least obtrusive forms of sustainable energy compared to wind, it has been suggested.

However, "unless you actually live by the beach you are very unlikely to see tidal power generation", said Adam Bell, national campaigns coordinator at Renewable Energy UK.

His comments came after plans to develop one of the first commercial-scale tidal stream projects in the world, off the coast of Anglesey in north Wales, were revealed.

RWE npower renewables will be creating a tidal farm project which would be capable of generating 10.5 MW of clean, green power from the sea's major tidal currents.

Mr Bell said that from an environmental point of view, tidal power only has a "very small ecological impact".

"Of course, every one put in the sea has to go through an environmental assessment in order to make sure it doesn't have an adverse impact on local marine life," he added.

Posted by Tom Barnett