Tidal power plan nearly at an end, councillors say

A controversial tidal energy plan appears to be close to coming to an end after its planning permission expired, councillors have said.

Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) had proposed an array of underwater turbines supplying enough power for a third of the homes on the Isle of Wight.

The island council, which has an outstanding £1m loan to the firm, said Monday was the deadline for starting shore works within three years of planning permission being granted.

PTEC has not yet provided any comment to the BBC.

The firm began work on an initial 30MW demonstration project south of the Isle of Wight in 2012.

However, it previously said it had been "forced into hibernation" after failing to win government contracts.

It won planning permission on 16 December 2021 to build a sub-station and install cabling.

Councillor Ed Blake, who represents the Ventnor and St Lawrence ward where the infrastructure would be built, said no work had started.

The Conservative said: "Hopefully, it's a total dead duck. Somehow the council got sold the dream.

"It would be easier to build it on Mars than in St Catherine's Deep."

Mr Blake, a fisherman, said the project was a "non-starter" because of its size and the small amount of power it would generate.

He added: "It's only big enough to be a test bed, but it's the only place in Europe that has enough tide to warrant a tidal turbine.

"So what are you testing it for?"

Isle of Wight planning consultant Daniel James, who also opposed the project, said Monday was the deadline to submit plans for drainage, ground stabilisation and other paperwork.

However, he said none of the work had been done.

"It's another nail in a coffin which already has a lot of nails," he added.

In November, PTEC applied unsuccessfully to amend conditions associated with the planning approval.

Isle of Wight councillor Nick Stuart said it was an "artificial" attempt to keep the three-year permission alive.

He said: "To start again would involve a whole new application, a whole set of costs.

"I haven't heard anything to say that's likely to happen."

The Liberal Democrat, a former civil servant in charge of science innovation, said tidal energy was "very much in the research phase".

He said challenges included the "destructive" marine environment, costly machinery and the problem of storing the energy for later use.

Councillor Michael Lilley, who has repeatedly questioned the project, said it was a "high-risk fantasy" and "not viable".

He said: "Isle of Wight Council I believe has lost at least £1m but probably in real terms much more.

"I will be asking the audit committee for a full investigation... although I think the tide has washed away the money, along with the tidal energy dream."

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