Islanders win OWL energy monitors

22 July 2011

Five people have won their own OWL energy monitors courtesy of Guernsey Electricity through a competition featured in the Guernsey Press.

Anne Rihoy, Anna Phillips, Mandy Le Prevost, Nicky Morshead and Sandra Silvestri each won an OWL energy monitor.

The competition was featured in a Guernsey Press article written by Mark Ogier about lowering electricity consumption in the home. Mark trialled the OWL energy monitor to monitor his family's energy consumption over a number of weeks and discussed the results in the article.

The OWL is a small gadget that consists of a transmitter and wireless receiver. It measures hourly electricity consumption in kW and pounds/pence and the amount of CO2 generated.

Vince Smith, commercial contracting manager and Steve Walden, senior energy adviser at Guernsey Electricity presented Anne, Nicky and Sandra with their OWL energy monitors at Guernsey Electricity.

Sandra Silvestri was really pleased to have won the energy monitor: "I'm interested in reducing my energy consumption at home so the OWL energy monitor will be really helpful," she said.

"Energy monitors are a great way of keeping a close eye on your electricity consumption at home," said Vince Smith.

"They can help a household to become more aware of the cost of using certain appliances at certain times, which is important, especially if you're trying to lower your energy consumption and your bills," he said.

Previous articles

Electric Avenues

3 July 2011

WHEN I was growing up back in the 1960s and 70s, every night the plugs would come out around the house, leaving only the refrigerator connected. These safety measures also served as a way to keep only the essential items on and helped keep bills low.

But today unplugging appliances every night certainly in my household is the exception rather than the rule.

Many modern gadgets, such as Sky+ recorders, are designed to be left connected to the mains and in standby mode all the time. But how much power are they drawing? How much is this contributing to my home's carbon footprint? And just how much does this cost?

The answers to these questions are now at our fingertips thanks to devices that make it possible for householders to monitor their electricity consumption.

The Owl is a small gadget resembling a digital clock that measures hourly electricity consumption in kW and pounds/pence, as well as how much CO2 is being generated. It consists of two components a transmitter that is mounted near the meter and a wireless receiver that can be placed anywhere in the house.

The physical installation isn't as complicated as I was expecting, since the monitor doesn't actually have to be wired in to the supply.

Guernsey Electricity senior energy adviser Steve Walden kindly came and fitted the device for me, but said that it is designed for customers to install themselves.

The connection from the transmitter to the mains supply is a plastic hoop which is simply placed over the mains cable running out of the meter a bit like a blood pressure cuff, I thought.

Setting up the receiver is a bit more involved and requires you to input your tariff rate. There are six tariff slots available and since we are on the Super Economy 12 rate we used four of them ­ two for the special rate and two for the standard.

Once that's done, you're able to press a button to switch between viewing the price of the power you're using per hour in pounds/pence, kW or the CO2 emissions in pounds or kgs.

It's at this point that I suspect most users will start running around the house with the receiver in hand, turning different equipment on or off and seeing what impact that has.

GE energy adviser Dave Sarchet talked me through using the Owl and he nipped into the kitchen to turn on the kettle as a demonstration.

From a modest 5p or so per hour, the meter leapt to a reading of just over 54p.

I was surprised but not shocked at the figure but it was a different story when one of my family used the shower the following morning, when the meter gave a reading of about £1.60 an hour.

It's an interesting indication of how much power is being used and an encouragement to use power-hungry household equipment only during the cheaper hours or for as short a time as possible.

When it came to keeping power usage to a minimum, as an experiment I went around the house turning off every socket and switch I could reach, just to see if I could get the meter down to zero.

But even with every power point off, the best I could do was about 5p an hour or 0.3kW (0.084kg of CO2).

As for the equipment on standby, I was quite surprised to see how little difference turning off our Sky satellite box made. The difference was tiny, barely 0.5p an hour.

Dave suggested that with manufacturers these days being more attuned to saving energy, one only really need switch off equipment that is rarely used.

On its own the Owl receiver is a handy guide to how much power you're burning, but it's when you download the data into the supplied PC program that it makes you sit up and take notice.

Unfortunately the software isn't all that user-friendly, but persevere and you will find it provides some interesting and useful information.

The data is stored in the receiver and is downloaded to the PC when you connect it via the USB port.

After a few weeks, it's fascinating to look at the pattern of power usage.

The graphs break down by year, month, day, hour and minute and I found the hour and minute charts particularly interesting.

It turns out that our home uses the most electricity between 7am and 8am and on clicking into the minute-by-minute chart for that period, it was easy to see exactly when the power was being used. In fact, it gave what was in effect a visual guide to my family's shower routine. It felt as if I was looking at the heartbeat of the house.

I'd been worried that we were using more electricity than most, given the amount of electrical gear we've got.

But when looked over a period of several days, it turned out that our power usage was pretty even and not all that high between 20 and 25 units a day.

Our average CO2 production over a couple of weeks was 6.5kg per day, which again didn't seem too bad.

The key to cutting costs for us would be to keep trying to use electricity in our cheap times, taking more advantage of the GE Super Economy 12 tariff.

I thought this might be the solution for any home, but Dave pointed out that the economy tariff is not going to suit everyone since each household's power requirements are different.

The Owl is a handy rough guide to how much power you're burning and for the average user is a good way to keep a close eye on your electricity bill and just how long members of your family are spending in the shower.

By Mark Ogier

Student rises to low carbon challenge

30 September 2010

Elizabeth College student Christopher Galpin recently attended the Smallpeice Trust 'Low Carbon Challenge' at Newcastle University, thanks to sponsorship from Guernsey Electricity.

Christopher's keen interest in renewable energy was focused on a variety of challenges and developing skills in engineering.

"We were set the challenge of building a working tidal power turbine model. To this end we were given a motor and gearbox kit to use as the generator, a sheet of industrial foam, a couple of sheets of plywood, some lengths of wood and a choice of three propellers – as well as the best selection of non-power tools that we could have asked for," he said.

"The phrase "Engineering is all about compromise" was introduced to us by the course and we were constantly forced to balance out our objectives with concerns of practicality and achievability."

Christopher's team got together to plan their project, and took a novel approach:

"Rather than opt for the standard "funnel" design we decided we would attempt something rather more ambitious. Inspired by the talk about wind turbines, we attempted a vertical axis design which required the making of our own propeller. It was particularly rewarding because as the day progressed we were forced to overcome flaws in our initial design, all the while making our own decisions."

The turbines were tested in the universities state of the art wind/wave/current tank:

"It was a good feeling to see something that we had designed and built ourselves being tested in the same facilities that test equipment made by professional engineers from all over Europe.

"Despite the fact that our turbine did not work as well as we had hoped, it was revealed to us that a similar design had been tested in the same facilities only a week previously by a team from Cambridge University."

The course helped Christopher in his understanding of the renewable energy sector.

"These days it has become almost a cliché to talk of sustainability in power production as being crucial to our future, but it is true that humanity requires something of a revolution in this area and the field is still wide open to all kinds of ideas," he said.

"The course has confirmed to me that I would like a career in engineering or the sciences, and renewable energy is a particular area of interest for me.

"Without the sponsorship of Guernsey Electricity it is highly unlikely that I would've been able to attend this course. I would like to thank them for helping me take this opportunity to explore my future career prospects."

Student to tackle low carbon energy

19 July 2010

Sponsorship from Guernsey Electricity means Elizabeth College student Christopher Galpin will be attending the Smallpeice Trust low carbon energy challenge at Newcastle University.

The world is facing up to the challenge of finding alternative energy sources and this event encourages young people to the study power that can be derived from the environment such as tides, waves and wind.

Students must rise to the engineering challenge of capturing environmental energy for themselves.

The year 11 student will have question and answer sessions with leading experts in low carbon and marine engineering and use state-of-the-art research facilities including wave tanks, wind-wave-current tanks and circulating water tanks to conduct tests and experiments.

He will also learn about the engineering challenges involved in capturing, distributing and storing energy from the environment and compete in teams to design and make the more effective and innovative low carbon energy capture devices tested in commercial and research test facilities.

Mr Galpin said: "Reducing our carbon footprint is a big challenge the world faces. I'm hoping to learn more about the issue and come up with some good ideas for how to generate energy from low carbon sources."

Hermione Surcombe, Guernsey Electricity's HR Manager said: "Helping Christopher attend this event is very important to us as low carbon energy will play a big part in the island's future so the more islanders that are aware of the challenges posed by this industry the better. We hope Christopher learns a great deal from the event and brings back some good ideas."

The course takes place 19-22 July at Newcastle University:

www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk

Guernsey Electricity becomes environmental hero

24 June 2010

Image L-R: Carol Royle, Paul Craig, Guernsey Electricity, Hermione Surcombe, Guernsey Electricity, Peter Harvey, Enpure.

Guernsey Electricity has been presented with a Green Apple Award in recognition of the work of the company's environmental champions.

The awards are presented annually to companies, councils and communities that carry out projects that enhance the environment. The trophy was presented by star of the stage and screen, Carol Royle, at the Tower of London earlier this month.

The environmental champions worked to bring about real change at Guernsey Electricity that delivered measurable improvements to how the company operates.

The Green Apple judges commented: "Electricity providers are rightly keen to inform their customers of ways to reduce their energy dependency, but the team at Guernsey Electricity also felt it was just as important to ensure they were doing the same for themselves. An ongoing project of energy reduction, recycling initiatives and staff education has enabled them to make significant reductions across the board."

The award-winning project will be featured in the next Green Book, the world's only work of reference on environmental best practice, and the company will also be presented with a Green Hero wall shield at a special prize giving ceremony at the House of Commons later in the year.

Guernsey Electricity's managing director, Ian Watson, said: 'This award recognises of all the hard work and commitment our staff have demonstrated in making the company improve its environmental performance.'

'Our environmental champions have helped Guernsey Electricity itself to become more energy efficient and they are also using this knowledge and experience to assist our customers,' said Mr Watson.

Electric cars ideal for Guernsey

16 April 2009

GUERNSEY could have public charging facilities for electric cars that would help reduce the island's carbon footprint.

The UK Government today unveiled ambitious plans to promote low carbon transport. They include subsidies of up to £5,000 for electric vehicles from 2011, and £20 million to install public charging points and other necessary infrastructure.

Guernsey Electricity is currently assessing options to provide similar facilities in the island. Initially, these would be likely to be installed in the main public car parks.

Engineering director Steve Morris said that for an island the size of Guernsey, electric cars were a very viable alternative to traditional vehicles. Although there were very few at present, it was only a matter of time before these became commonplace.

'I don't think we are talking about technology that is five or ten years away any more. I think it will be more like three or four years from now that we will start seeing a lot more electric vehicles on our roads,' he said.

Electric vehicles offer significant environmental benefits over traditional petrol and diesel cars. Mr Morris said they could play a major role in reducing the island's carbon footprint.

'Road transport is now the main source of carbon emissions in the island. If we are serious about reducing that then electric vehicles are a very real option,' he said.

'Electricity locally has much lower carbon emissions than petrol and diesel, and also LPG [liquid petroleum gas], which is another alternative fuel. It is also the only source of energy available locally with the potential to be entirely carbon-free, so these types of vehicle could have a significant impact in the near future.'

Guernsey Electricity recently replaced one of its fleet with a hybrid car, which uses a combination of petrol and an electric motor. It has also just ordered its first electric van, from a local company which has developed such the vehicle.

This will use lithium ion battery technology, which will feature in the next generation of electric vehicles currently in development by major car manufacturers. These are larger versions of the ones used in mobile phones, and have a better power to weight ratio than the traditional lead acid or nickel cadmium types.

Mr Morris said this was a significant step in overcoming the major issue for electric vehicles, which is the distance they can travel between charges. On street recharging facilities would also help tackle this.

One of the options Guernsey Electricity is looking at is the system that is to be used in London under plans recently announced by Mayor Boris Johnson. However the company is also looking at other alternatives, which may be more cost-effective.

Drivers would probably have to enter a either an account number and security code or a pre-payment card to use these charging points.

Marine power moves a step closer for Guernsey

18 December 2008

A Guernsey Electricity-backed marine power project has produced the world's first one megawatt tidal turbine device. The SeaGen device, which is the first ever commercial scale tidal stream turbine, was installed in Strangford Lough, near Belfast, in May this year. Since then it has been undergoing its commissioning phase, and this week generated at its maximum capacity of 1.2MW for the first time.

This is the highest power so far produced by a tidal stream system anywhere in the world. It exceeds the previous highest output of 300kW produced in 2004 by SeaGen developers Marine Current Turbines' earlier SeaFlow system, off the north Devon coast.

SeaGen works in principle much like an "underwater windmill", with the rotors driven by the power of the tidal currents rather than the wind. Now that it has reached full power, the device will move towards fulloperating mode, when it will be generating for up to 22 hours a day. It will also undergo regular inspections and performance testing as part of the project's development programme.

SeaGen has capacity to generate power to meet the average electricity needs of around 1000 homes. The power generated is being purchased by Irish energy company, ESB Independent, for its customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Guernsey Electricity is a minority shareholder in Marine Current Turbines, and has been closely monitoring developments with the SeaGen project since its inception. The company's engineering director, Steve Morris, said it was a significant milestone for tidal power, which has enormous potential for the Bailiwick.

'SeaGen demonstrates for the first time the commercial potential of tidal energy as a viable alternative source of renewable energy, and clearly that has significant implications for the islands,' he said.

'Tidal power technology is still at a very early stage of development, and there is some way to go before we can expect to see these devices being manufactured and deployed in major tidal projects. However the results of the commissioning phase clearly demonstrate the viability of SeaGen device, which is the first commercial scale device of its type.'

Earlier this year Guernsey Electricity began the most extensive survey ever carried out of the bed and tidal flows in various locations around the Bailiwick. Mr Morris said this will provide vital information for developers wishing to establish marine power projects in local waters.

The Bailiwick is believed to have some of the most favourable tidal characteristics for marine power generation in the British Isles.

'We identified some time ago that tidal power is the most suitable renewable technology for Guernsey. If we can harness the waters around us a source of clean, renewable energy, than that has considerable potential as far as the island's future energy needs are concerned,' he said.

'It won't be free, because as with any technology there are considerable capital costs which escalate when you start installing devices offshore. Nevertheless the implications as far as the island's energy security and providing a natural source of carbon free electricity are enormous.'

Marine Current Turbines managing director Martin Wright said the company had taken a clear lead in tidal power generation. 'Marine Current Turbines has pioneered the development of tidal current turbines. We have a significant technical lead over all rival tidal technologies that are under development, and there are no other tidal turbines of truly commercial scale. All the competitive systems so far tested at sea are quite small, most being less than 10% the rotor area of SeaGen,' he said.

Marine Current Turbines is Europe's leading tidal power developer

25 September 2008

A GUERNSEY Electricity-backed company behind technology that could be used to generate tidal power in local waters has been named Europe's leading renewable marine energy developer.

Bristol-based Marine Current Turbines (MCT) was ranked fifth overall in the 'Clean Tech 100 Survey', and was one of only two marine power companies in top 10.

The listings rank the top 100 European clean energy developers according to their environmental impact and future potential. They were compiled by research firm Library House and published in the Guardian.

MCT is behind the world's first commercial scale tidal power project. Its SeaGen device was installed in Strangford Lough, near Belfast, in April, and is now connected to the Northern Ireland grid. It is due to be commissioned later this year, and once fully operational will be able to generate clean, green electricity for up to 1,000 homes.

The company also has plans to build a tidal farm off the island of Anglesey in Wales, which will be capable of producing clean, renewable energy for about 10,000 UK homes. This is likely to be one of the first commercial scale projects of its type in the world, and could be in operation as early as 2011.

Guernsey Electricity managing director Ian Watson said the Clean Tech 100 survey underlined MCT's status as the company at the leading edge of tidal power generation.

'With SeaGen, tidal power generation is now very close to becoming a commercial reality, and for the Bailiwick that clearly has hugely significant implications,' he said.

'Electricity is the only energy we have locally that has the potential to be entirely carbon free. Obviously if we can harness the power of the seas around us as a source of clean, renewable electricity, then it can make a very major contribution to that goal.'

Guernsey Electricity is conducting a detailed survey of the sea bed and tidal flows in various locations around the Bailiwick. This will enable developers interested in installing turbine projects in local waters to assess whether conditions are suitable for their technology.

It will provide a detailed picture of the sea bed and tidal characteristics covering an area of around 100 square kilometres. This will include locations in the Little Russell, Big Russell, along the South Coast of Guernsey.

Guernsey Electricity champions are an environmental winner

16 September 2008

A STAFF-led drive to reduce waste and conserve energy at Guernsey Electricity has resulted in major savings in just six months.

A recent independent audit identified significant environmental improvements across the company, including a 75% fall in waste going to landfill, a reduction of more than 10% in electricity consumption, and a sharp increase in the amount of materials recycled.

The achievements come after the company introduced a new scheme giving staff responsibility for coming up with initiatives and then persuading colleagues to make any necessary changes in the workplace.

Guernsey Electricity managing director Ian Watson said the improvements were just the start, and promised even greater savings in the future.

'As an energy provider we have a major role to play in terms of reducing carbon emissions and minimising the environmental impact of our operations. What these achievements show clearly is that we are prepared to lead by example, and want to be at the forefront of local efforts,' he said.

The scheme, which is endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme, was run in conjunction with UK consultancy Global Action Plan. It began in February with an initial audit looking at various aspects of the company's operations, including the amount of waste generated, how much recyclable material was thrown away, and overall energy consumption.

From this a list of priority actions and training requirements were drawn up, and a team of volunteers from across the company was assembled to act as 'environment champions'.

They were tasked with coming up with initiatives to address the areas identified in the initial audit, and encouraging colleagues to adopt these changes.

These included simple measures such as installing timers to switch off lights and computer equipment when not in use, and introducing recycling bins for various materials in all the main office areas. Staff were then informed about the changes by the champions and encouraged to support the scheme.

A range of medium and long term goals were also identified, including investigating water savings and onsite waste composting.

The reduction in waste means around 7 tonnes less material will be sent to landfill this year compared to 2007. Switching to recycled paper alone has resulted in savings in the past six months of 25 trees, 48,000 litres of water, and 6,000 units of electricity that would have gone into manufacturing virgin paper.

The reduction in energy consumption is estimated will save enough electricity this year to power more than 30 households, and result in a 12% reduction in the company's carbon footprint.

Guernsey Electricity human resources manager and environment champions co-ordinator Hermione Surcombe said it had been an enormous success.

'This programme has brought about real change in the way we think about our everyday activities at work and the effect we have on the environment. All the staff have got involved and made those small habit changes which can make such a big difference. The champions are justifiably proud of their achievement and intend to continue towards the medium and long term goals,' she said.

Following the initial success of the scheme the 16 volunteers are being presented with United Nations Environment Programme certificates to mark their achievements.

Seabed survey to pave the way for tidal power

15 September 2008

GUERNSEY Electricity is to carry out a detailed submarine survey that will help put the Bailiwick at the forefront of tidal power generation.

The survey work, which begins today, will gather information that could be used by developers interested in siting turbine projects in local waters. Crucially, it will provide a detailed survey of the seabed and tidal flows, to help assess if conditions are suitable for the technology they plan to use.

This is likely to make the Bailiwick more attractive to international tidal power developers, who would otherwise have to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds carrying out similar surveys themselves.

Instead, the information needed to assess the viability of any technology will be readily available to them. This could give the Bailiwick an edge over other locations around the world that can offer similar tidal conditions.

Project head Sally-Ann David, engineering services manager for Guernsey Electricity, said depending on the type of technology being used the physical requirements for the seabed can differ. 'Whatever system you have you are going to need to secure it to the sea bed somehow, in an area where there is a fast flowing tidal stream. What this survey will do is provide the critical data that engineers will need to assess whether locations that we believe offer the right tidal conditions are going to be suitable for a particular technology,' she said.

'By doing this work now, we will have important data readily available for developers to assess the viability of their systems in Bailiwick waters, at lower cost than doing it themselves.'

The study is due to begin today, and the survey vessel is equipped with the latest hydrographic mapping systems. It will record data on the water depth and physical characteristics of the sea bed, including its shape, formation and type of rock, and any sand above. It will also take measurements of the tidal speed.

It will provide the most detailed picture of the sea bed and tidal characteristics around the Bailiwick ever commissioned. This will cover an area of around 100 square kilometres, and include locations in the Little Russell, Big Russell, along the South Coast of Guernsey, and around Sark.

As well as mapping the sea bed, the study will also provide valuable information for planning submarine cable connections required to bring the power ashore.

In all, the survey work is expected to last about six weeks, and the results should be available by the end of the year. More detailed tidal measurements will be undertaken at locations identified by the survey.

In 2004, Guernsey Electricity invested £250,000 in Marine Current Turbines, a UK firm which is behind the world's first commercial scale tidal power project.

Its SeaGen device was installed in Strangford Lough, near Belfast, in April, and is now connected to the Northern Ireland grid. It is due to be commissioned later this year, and once fully operational will be able to generate clean, green electricity for up to 1,000 homes.

Notes to Editors

1. Electricity is the only source of energy locally that has the potential to be produced solely from low or zero carbon sources, therefore helping to reduce carbon emissions which are a key contributor to global climate change.

2. Investigation of renewable technologies is a key element of Guernsey Electricity's Green Enterprise initiative, which brings together a range of activities aimed at both reducing the impact of the company's operations on the environment and enabling customers to use energy more wisely. Other elements include promotion of energy efficiency, by providing access to energy saving expertise, products and services; investing in island-wide automatic metering, to provide customers with more information on their energy use; and training staff to provide greater energy awareness throughout the organisation. For more information: www.greenenterprise.gg.

3. Marine Current Turbines Ltd (www.marineturbines.com) is based in Bristol, and was established in 2000. Its principal corporate shareholders include BankInvest, ESB International, EDF Energy, Guernsey Electricity and Triodos Bank. With SeaFlow, the word's first offshore tidal stream device and SeaGen, the world's largest grid-connected tidal stream system, MCT is the "first mover" in the development of tidal turbines and has a significant global technical lead in this field.

4. As a renewable energy company, Marine Current Turbines takes its responsibilities to the environment seriously. It has established a £2million programme to closely monitor the impact of SeaGen, involving scientists from the Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and from the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrew's University (SMRU). This includes the presence of a marine mammal observer on SeaGen at all times during commissioning, when SeaGen will operate during daylight hours, to observe how the lough's marine life interacts with the structure. A sonar system also monitors seal movements.

Cable link reduces electricity's carbon emissions by 70%

11 April 2008

THE contribution that the cable link has made to reducing local carbon emissions has been underlined by the latest Defra statistics.

However maintaining a policy of sourcing electricity purely on a least cost basis could see carbon emissions rise again in the future.

The Defra statistics show that since electricity imports began in 2001, local carbon emissions due to power production have fallen by 70%. However 2006 saw a sharp increase, which coincided with a peak in on-island generation.

Guernsey Electricity managing director Ian Watson said the company is mandated to provide power from the cheapest source. This determines the balance between imports, the vast majority of which come from low or zero carbon sources, and local production, which relies solely on oil-powered generation.

Although the amount of on-island generation has fallen since the 2006 peak, in its response to the draft Energy Policy consultation Guernsey Electricity said it should be given greater flexibility to favour imports for environmental reasons.

'Since the cable link was commissioned, it has generally been cheaper to import than to generate onisland during the peak months, and as a result our carbon emissions have fallen significantly. Clearly that has considerable environmental benefits,' he said.

'However during the peak months in autumn 2006 there was a sudden fall in the oil price, which meant the balance shifted to local generation. The result was a sharp increase in carbon emissions, albeit not anything like the levels that we used to see before the cable link.

'It is essential to strike the right balance between economic and environmental performance. Given the current concern regarding carbon emissions and global climate change, we believe there needs to be greater scope to favour imports for environmental reasons. We don't currently have that ability, but we hope that when the States come to debate the Energy Policy later this year they will look at this seriously.'

Since the cable link was commissioned in 2001, imports have accounted for around 75% of the island's electricity. In the 12 months to 31 March 2007, which coincided with the fall in oil prices, this fell to just 55%.

However the most recent statistics show that in the 12 months to 31 March 2008, 70% of the island's electricity was imported. This included nuclear power, but also other zero carbon renewable sources such as wind and hydro power.

Guernsey Electricity still maintains sufficient capacity at the Vale Power Station for full on-island generation in the event of the link to Europe being lost for any reason.

However Mr Watson said there were sound environmental reasons why the island would want to progressively move away from burning fossil fuels as a first option.

'We've already come a long way since the island was entirely reliant on oil for all its electricity needs. I think we need to ensure that we don't now take a backward step, and instead the island needs to look at ways to increase the amount of power coming from low carbon or renewable sources,' he said.

Tidal power prospects a step nearer as SeaGen is installed

2 April 2008

THE prospect of generating electricity from local waters is a step closer after the world's first commercial scale tidal current turbine was installed in Northern Ireland this morning.
The device, known as SeaGen, was lowered into the waters of Strangford Lough, near Belfast, at around 3.30am. The developers expect that within eight weeks, the turbine will be generating enough electricity for up to 1,000 homes.

Guernsey Electricity, which has identified tidal power generation as potentially the most viable source for renewable energy for the island, has a close interest in the project. The company is a minority shareholder in Marine Current Turbines (MCT), the UK firm behind the technology.

SeaGen is the largest tidal turbine ever produced, and capable of generating up to 1.2 Megawatts of electricity from the movement of the tide.

The installation operation in Northern Ireland has attracted widespread interest from the national media, with front page coverage of the project in the Independent on Sunday, and stories on Channel 4 News, BBC, and the Guardian.

The Independent on Sunday described it as 'A watershed for clean energy'.

Guernsey Electricity engineering services manager Sally-Ann David was in Strangford earlier this week to see the final preparations for its installation. She said it was a significant development.

'Obviously this is a significant milestone for MCT, but also very exciting for the development of tidal technology on a commercial scale. It was great to see the backing for this project from the local community of Northern Ireland, and how sensitively the project was managed to carefully integrate into the beautiful environment of the lough,' she said.

'We are very confident that this would be a suitable technology for Guernsey.'

MCT also has plans to build a tidal farm capable of producing clean, renewable energy for about 10,000 UK homes off the island of Anglesey in Wales. This is likely to be one of the first commercial scale projects of its type in the world, and could be in operation as early as 2011.

Both Strangford Lough and Anglesey are believed to be prime locations in UK waters for tidal power generation, due to their favourable tidal conditions. Guernsey has also previously been identified as having similar potential.

Engineers are now working to secure the turbine to the seabed in Strangford Lough, as the first stage in the 8-week commissioning phase. It will then be connected to the Northern Ireland power grid, and once generation starts electricity will be fed directly into this supply network.

Scientists from Queen's University Belfast and St Andrew's Sea Mammal Research Unit will then begin a three month study to assess any effects on the local marine habitat.

Notes to editors

1. In 2004, Guernsey Electricity invested £250,000 in Marine Current Turbines (MCT), which is pioneering research into tidal power generation.

2. Marine Current Turbines (www.marineturbines.com) was established in 2000, and its other principal shareholders include BankInvest, EDF Energy and Tridos Bank. With SeaFlow, the world's first offshore tidal stream device and SeaGen, the world's first grid-connected tidal stream system, MCT is the 'first mover' in the development of tidal turbines and has a significant global technical lead in this field.

3. At 1.2MW capacity, MCT's SeaGen is the world's largest tidal current device by a significant margin, able to generate clean and sustainable electricity for approximately 1000 homes. It is also a world first in being the prototype for commercial technology to be replicated in a large scale over the next few years.

Students take a close look at Planet Guernsey

10 March 2008

LOCAL sixth form students will discuss the environmental challenges that the island is likely to face as a result of global climate change at a special seminar sponsored by Guernsey Electricity.

A number of contributors to last year's successful Planet Guernsey publication have been lined up to give presentations on various topics. These will range from the impact on local wildlife and plants due to global warming, to its likely effects on the island's weather patterns.

It will also look at the possible responses that individuals, businesses, and the community as a whole could make to help address the issue.

More than 100 local sixth formers are expected to attend the seminar, which will take place at the Performing Arts Centre this Friday (14 March).

The speakers include States agricultural and environment adviser Dr Andrew Casebow, who edited the Planet Guernsey book, and Tim Sparks from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Tim Lillington, exsenior meteorological officer at Guernsey Airport, and Guernsey Electricity engineering director Steve Morris will also give presentations.

The students will then have an opportunity to consider the various issues raised, and prepare a response to the presentations.

Education Department lifelong learning manager Alun Williams said the publication of Planet Guernsey had provided a valuable source of information, and the seminar would provide students with a forum to explore these issues in more detail.

'Planet Guernsey for the first time provided an insight into the global issue of climate change from a local perspective. This seminar will be an opportunity for the students to revisit some of these themes, and also give their views in what is after all a very important theme,' he said.

Guernsey Electricity engineering director Steve Morris said public awareness was critical to achieving a balanced and effective response to the challenge of climate change, and this was a major driver for the company's "Green Enterprise" initiative.

'Climate change is an issue that most people now recognise as a concern, and something that needs to be addressed. We want to encourage discussion across the whole community, although it is the younger generation who will be most impacted by the choices that we currently have to make, so it is important that they are part of this debate' he said.

A reprint of Planet Guernsey is currently being planned, after the initial print run of 8,000 ran out within weeks of publication.

Tidal energy moves a big step closer

12 February 2008

THE prospect of generating power from the waters around Guernsey has moved a significant step closer with the announcement of a major tidal turbine project off the Welsh island of Anglesey.

UK electricity giant npower and Bristol-based Marine Current Turbines (MCT), in which Guernsey Electricity is a minority shareholder, have unveiled plans to build a tidal farm capable of producing clean, renewable energy for about 10,000 UK homes.

It is likely to be one of the first commercial projects of its type in the world, generating enough electricity to meet approximately 7.5% of Guernsey's demand, and could be in operation as early as 2011.

Guernsey Electricity managing director Ian Watson said it was an exciting development, and npower's involvement underlined the industry's growing confidence in MCT's design.

'We believe tidal generation represents by far the most suitable source of renewable energy for Guernsey, and the announcement of this major scheme is a serious indication of faith in the MCT technology,' he said.

The location chosen, known as the Skerries, is believed to be one of the prime locations in UK waters for such a project, due to its favourable tidal conditions. Guernsey has also previously been identified as having similar potential.

'The possibilities for wind power in Guernsey are limited, simply because we don't have the space available to deploy this technology on any large scale. However where tidal stream generation is concerned, the waters around us are some of the best in the world,' said Mr Watson.

'The prospect of the island being able to generate clean, renewable electricity is very real, and with this announcement that possibility is now a good deal closer.'

In a separate development, MCT has also announced that its full-scale turbine design will be installed next month in Strangford Lough, Northern Island. This will be the first commercial-sized tidal stream device to be connected to an electricity grid.

The 1.2 Megawatt 'SeaGen' turbine will generate the same amount of electricity as a typical 60 metre tall wind turbine, and is expected to take around two weeks to install. Scientists from Queen's University Belfast and St Andrew's Sea Mammal Research Unit will then begin a three month study to assess any effects on the local marine habitat.

MCT managing director Martin Wright said the company has carried out extensive engineering ahead of its installation and operation.

'As long as the weather is good and there are no last minute operational issues to contend with, we should have SeaGen deployed by the end of March,' he said.

Notes to editors

1. In 2004, Guernsey Electricity invested £250,000 in Marine Current Turbines (MCT), which is pioneering research into tidal power generation.

2. Marine Current Turbines (www.marineturbines.com) was established in 2000, and its other principal shareholders include BankInvest, EDF Energy and Tridos Bank. With SeaFlow, the world's first offshore tidal stream device and SeaGen, the world's first grid-connected tidal stream system, MCT is the 'first mover' in the development of tidal turbines and has a significant global technical lead in this field.

3. At 1.2MW capacity, MCT's SeaGen is the world's largest tidal current device by a significant margin, able to generate clean and sustainable electricity for approximately 1000 homes. It is also a world first in being the prototype for commercial technology to be replicated in a large scale over the next few years.

4. npower renewables, a division of npower, is one of the UK's leading renewable energy companies, dedicated to generating electricity using sustainable, environmentally-friendly resources. It has a wide portfolio that includes both onshore and offshore wind farms, and hydro plants and co-firing biomass operated through its sister company, RWE npower.

Survey shows strong support for renewables

12 February 2008

Guernsey Electricity says local renewables is the way to go

17 January 2008

A LARGE scale project to generate a significant proportion of the island's electricity from renewable sources could be on the horizon.

Guernsey Electricity believes that a commitment to generating power locally from one or more renewable sources should be an integral part of the island's future energy policy. It wants to bring forward proposals by 2011 for a major project that would initially provide between 5% and 10% of current demand.

However local environmental considerations may rule out large scale use of wind power, which currently represents the cheapest source of renewable energy. Instead the waters around the island could provide a more practical solution.

In the short term, importing energy from Europe generated using renewable sources, such as hydro and wind power, remained the island's only practical supply of 'green' electricity.

The proposals are set out in Guernsey Electricity's detailed response to the current Energy Policy Green Paper consultation. In it, the company outlines timescales for a number of key initiatives.

Managing director Ian Watson said some big decisions will need to be made in the next few years, but there was now a collective will to tackle global climate change. He believed Guernsey Electricity would be at the forefront of local efforts.

'Governments the world over have woken up to the reality of climate change and the need for real action to address this. We are not alone in this, nor are we isolated from what is happening elsewhere,' he said.

'We have to look to the future, and ensure that we can maintain a secure and reliable energy supply but at the same time reduce our carbon footprint. The one thing that we can be sure about is that renewables will have a much greater role to play.'

The company is proposing the States look at introducing a polluter pays 'carbon tax', and grants for islanders who want to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties.

However it also stresses that to meet the Energy Policy Working Party's proposed target of a 30% cut in carbon emissions by 2020, significant progress will be needed in other areas, particularly road transport.

It recommends that the States mandates the company to bring forward plans by the end of 2010 for a commercial scale, local renewable project capable of producing 25,000 megawatt hours of electricity a year. This would represent around 7% of current annual usage, but a greater proportion if local consumption fell as a result of improvements in energy efficiency.

The major issues with such a project would be timing and cost. Although wind power is currently the most widely used source of renewable energy, Guernsey Electricity believes other emerging technologies, in particular tidal turbine generation, were likely to be more appropriate for the island.

The States will need to decide how to pay for such a project, with the capital costs likely to run to millions. Among the options would be to fund this through existing tax revenue; introduce new taxes, such as a levy on fossil fuel use; from electricity customers' bills; or from a combination of these.

Investment from third party developers could also be sought, although a clearer picture of cost and likely States funding would be needed. Most would probably not be interested in a jurisdiction where no public sector financial support is available.

The Vale Power Station, which currently provides around a quarter of the island's requirements, is likely to still play a significant role for the foreseeable future. This will mean the continuing use of fossil fuels, and the company is likely to replace some of its existing oil-fired generators with new, more efficient plant as early as 2014.

The company is against electricity customers having to foot the full bill for reducing carbon emissions and switching to more environmentally friendly sources. As the only form of energy in the island that could ultimately be generated solely using carbon free technologies, to effectively introduce a premium on electricity may encourage people to switch to other, potentially less clean fuels.

It proposes Treasury & Resources considers introducing a carbon tax levy, in line with the polluter pays principle. Such systems are widely used in Europe and elsewhere, and would apply to all fossil fuel use, including oil and gas.

This would provide an additional incentive for islanders to reduce their energy use. Revenue raised would be able to offset the higher cost of importing more electricity from renewable sources. It could also fund other initiatives, such as grants for energy efficiency improvements along similar lines to the government-funded scheme operated successfully in the UK.

The company is also in support of 'microgeneration' renewable projects, where householders or businesses install their own renewable energy devices. Although these are unlikely to represent a significant proportion of the island's overall total energy consumption, where practical they can meet some of the customer's own demand.

The company already pays customers for any excess power they are able to produce, although Mr Watson said that Guernsey Electricity would not expect microgeneration to provide a significant amount of power to the grid.

Main proposals

• States to set local targets for reducing carbon emissions by November.

• The States to review current least cost requirement for wholesale electricity purchases, to enable Guernsey Electricity to pay a premium for renewables. This would allow an annual target to be set for 'green imports' from 2009.

• The States to consider by 2010 the introduction of a fossil fuel levy, or carbon tax, as an incentive to reduce consumption and to fund energy efficiency improvements.

• Guernsey Electricity to put forward plans for a commercial scale local renewable energy project by 2011, which the States will decide on by 2012.

• To consider an annual limit on the amount of heavy fuel oil used for local generation.

• The Environment Department investigates grants for energy efficiency improvements and extra incentives for low emissions road transport. Proposals to be brought forward by 2010.

Green Enterprise is thinking of the future for GE

19 October 2007

GUERNSEY Electricity has launched a new 'green' initiative that will put the company at the forefront of local efforts to tackle global climate change.

A new Green Enterprise working group was set up earlier this year to co-ordinate a range of environmental projects already underway, and also identify other schemes that could provide similar benefits in the future.

They include the company's investment in tidal energy research, new smart metering technology for local homes and businesses, and improvements in waste management at the Vale Power Station.

The company is also looking into importing more electricity that has been generated using renewable sources. And devices that can provide three quarters of the energy required to heat a home simply by extracting heat from the air or the ground are currently being trialled.

In addition, staff at Guernsey Electricity will be undergoing training in energy awareness, and some will train as energy advisers.

Managing director Ian Watson said that being the island's only electricity provider put the company in a unique position. It also had a responsibility to both show a lead on environmental issues, and to respond to customers' increasing concerns.

'Tackling global climate change is possibly the greatest challenge that we face in the 21st century. It is no good us just sitting back and saying there is nothing we can do because other places aren't going to cut their emissions. We all have a responsibility to act, and we recognise that as the island's power provider we need to take the lead on this,' he said.

A website, www.greenenterprise.gg, has been launched to showcase the various initiatives that the group is working on at present. A new display has also been set up at the company's Northside showroom, giving details of the project.

The company is also asking islanders for their views on environmental and energy issues. Mr Watson said this will help shape the future work of the Green Enterprise initiative.

'There is no single, magic solution, but a wide range of different solutions and some of these we are uniquely placed to deliver. That is what Green Enterprise is all about – identifying what we can do as a company that not only reduces our impact but also enables our customers to make changes for themselves,' said Mr Watson.

The objectives of the Green Enterprise initiative are to limit the environmental impact of the company's own operations, investigate sources of renewable energy suitable for the island, and develop products and services that will help customers reduce their own carbon footprint.

Mr Watson said the range of initiatives reflected the need for a broad approach that gave islanders choices. 'It is not about forcing people to do anything, but giving them options,' he said. Most experts now agree on a link between climate change and rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, with one of the primary sources being carbon emissions from burning of fossil fuels, oil, coal and gas.

Since 2002, the cable link to Europe has reduced the island's dependence on fossil fuels. However the Vale Power station still produces a proportion of the electricity consumed locally, using oil-burning generators.

Mr Watson said that although fossil fuels were likely to remain a component of the island's generation mix, the proportion had fallen dramatically in the past five years and could reduce further.

'Our number one priority has to be to provide a secure, reliable and affordable electricity. However environmental considerations will increasingly become a key factor in how we achieve that, and will influence the decisions that we make in terms of our generation mix,' he said.

'In terms of reducing carbon emissions, we have already come a long way. Since imports began, more than half of the island's electricity has been generated through low or zero carbon sources. We want to build on that,' he said.

Projects

Tidal Turbines

Guernsey Electricity is backing pioneering research into developing technology that could generate power from the sea around the island. A prototype tidal current turbine is about to be installed in a trial in Northern Ireland, to demonstrate the viability of the current design before entering commercial production.

If the trial proves successful, similar turbines could be installed in local waters within the next decade.

Green Imports

Currently around 5% of all the island's electricity comes from renewable technologies, such as hydroelectric or wind power. However in future, islanders could choose how much of their electricity comes from these sources.

Guernsey Electricity is in discussions over the possibility of introducing 'green energy imports'. It would mean customers could opt to buy a higher proportion of renewable energy, and the premium they would pay could then be reinvested in projects that would generate more electricity using low or zero carbon sources.

Ground/Air Source Heat Pumps

Ground and air source heat pumps can provide up to 75% of the energy required for normal domestic heating simply by extracting heat from the air or ground. Guernsey Electricity is working with a major UK manufacturer that specialises in this technology, and currently trialling products with a view to becoming a local centre of excellence.

Keep Guernsey Green Award

s Guernsey Electricity was one of the first local companies to enrol in the Environment Department's Keep Guernsey Green Award, which aims to promote best practice in waste management and use of resources. Its aim is to complete the requirements before the end of 2007.

AMR

Studies have shown that providing customers with better information on their electricity use can be a major factor in reducing their energy consumption. Guernsey Electricity is currently installing automated meters in more than 25,000 local homes and businesses, which in future will enable readings to be collected automatically and remotely.

The project, which is due for completion around 2011 will enable the company to provide customers with more timely and accurate information that will help them reduce any unnecessary use.