Following confirmation that the States will debate the Island’s Electricity Strategy as planned next month, the Confederation of Guernsey Industry has outlined its overall support of the Policy Letter following publication by Environment and Infrastructure.
During the consultation process carried out last year, the Confederation of Guernsey Industry (CGi) raised concerns relating to the security of supply of electricity, maintaining energy affordability, identifying achievable targets for the development of renewable energy, the issue of regulation and the role of Guernsey Electricity plus the need to deliver prompt progress and real opportunities for local businesses.
Dave Newman, CGi chairman, said: “Security of supply and affordable energy are the absolute priorities for us and our members and we are pleased to see that pathway D does recognise this, along with adopting proven technology in the short to medium term and the ability to introduce novel technologies in the future if suited to Guernsey.
“Whilst there remain a few points we would disagree on and some areas where the strategy could have gone further to support our members’ interests, we feel that the Policy Letter has addressed our principal concerns and we are happy to offer our support for it.”
The CGi’s other representations included a focus on solar power opportunities locally, which would allow on-Island providers to invest in their businesses in support of this opportunity and the more proportionate and staged approach to regulation to avoid introducing unnecessary additional costs which would ultimately be passed on to consumers.
Mr Newman added: “We have been waiting for the Electricity Strategy for a long time but are pleased that the preferred option from E&I appears to allow for progress towards achieving real outcomes for the industry and our community. We would therefore urge the States to approve the Policy Letter without delay.”
The Electricity Strategy is due to be debated w/c 03rd July.
The Little Green Energy Company has also announced its support for the Environment and Infrastructure Department’s proposed Electricity Strategy.
The company has been working with E&I through the Energy Partnership on the Energy Policy and now the Electricity Strategy for almost five years, and now the electricity strategy itself is imminently to be debated upon by the States of Deliberation. LGE supports the proposed pathway D, where a combination of on island solar PV, offshore wind, and a second European interconnector is proposed, to take us safely and securely to net zero by 2050.
Bob Beebe – CEO of The Little Green Energy Company said: “There couldn’t be a more important time than now to focus on what is best for our precious island and its energy future. The balance of energy sources proposed and studied by Siemens as part of the strategy work could not be more appropriate.
“Any idea that 100% solar PV deployment will work for Guernsey or just one interconnector is acceptable or keeping the old power station going for longer is simply not feasible. There are a host of technical constraints and scenarios to be considered for example, short-term solar radiation variations where the effects of cloud transients or jet aircraft vapour trails, can cause network instability where there is loss of sunlight. Or imagine two inches of snow on everyone’s rooftops and solar PV systems and no wind and additionally, if the islands electricity load, which as predicted in the Siemens report, could be circa 150MW in future then we simply would not cope.”
Mr Beebe is calling for political unity and support on the electricity strategy at the important States Meeting on the 5th July where the strategy will be debated.
