Channel Islands Jersey and Guernsey along with Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man have signed a deal to cooperate on exploiting the wind and marine resources in and around the islands and in the Irish Sea, ITV Channel TV reported.

The proposed projects would utilize both the region’s winds and strong maritime currents. Tidal currents around the Channel Islands in the English Channel near the coast of France are some of the strongest in the world. Work on technology which utilize the energy contained in those ties to generate electricity is now at an advanced stage. The Channel Islands are also similarly well positioned for the development of wind and wave energy plants.

The emphasis on renewable power sources is part of Guernsey’s proposed new energy policy, which aims for 20 percent of the island’s supply to come from renewable resources by 2019. Guernsey’s proposed energy strategy has the objective of maintaining the security of affordable and sustainable energy supplies, using energy wisely and efficiently and conversing it where possible and reducing the environmental impacts of the island’s energy consumption as part of its contribution to international initiatives.

By. Charles Kennedy, Deputy Editor OilPrice.com

Source: OilPrice.com

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The idea of a grid spanning European waters should make supplies of electricity more secure for the participating countries by making it easier to optimize offshore wind electricity production . It will also help the EU as a whole to meet its renewable energy target for 2020.

Lord Hunt said:

“Talks begin today  in Copenhagen on how we can cut carbon emissions worldwide. A large part of that will be continuing the domestic decarbonization of our energy supplies by moving to low carbon sources including wind.

“We’re already the world leader in offshore wind here in the UK and today’s announcements bring new funding and expert direction to grow this vital new industry  They also mean we can work with other countries in the EU to increase our renewable energy supplies.”

Lord Hunt also announced the next round of Low Carbon Energy demonstration capital grants for Vestas, Clipper and Mitsubishi, and also the appointment of Professor Bernard Bulkin as the expert chair of DECC’s Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED).

Vestas will receive £1.75 million from the Government and a further £1.75 Million from the South East England Development Agency, in addition to £6 million already awarded. Vestas have announced today that with the award of their grant they will be going ahead with their R & D facility on the Isle of Wight. Vestas currently employ 160 on the Isle of Wight. By the time they open the technology center in 2011 they expect this to grow to over 200 and then to nearly 400 over the following years.

Rob Sauven, Managing Director, Vestas Technology R&D said:

“With this investment Vestas has chosen the UK as its location to build a strategically vital part of it global technology capability. We will be able to build and test the largest blades in the world including those related to our recent offshore product announcements.”

Pam Alexander, SEEDA Chief Executive, said:

“This award is good news for the UK’s position in the offshore wind market and also for the Isle of Wight’s workforce and economy.  Vestas is a key employer offering high value jobs and we are keen to retain them at the heart of the Isle of Wight’s center of excellence in advance composite materials.  The R&D center will shortly be leading the development of new off shore wind technologies for the rest of the world.”

On his appointment as expert Chair to ORED Professor Bulkin said:

“We need to move to low carbon energy supplies in order to combat climate change and achieving our renewables targets for 2020 are a key part of that.

“This will be a challenging and important role. I am looking forward to getting started at DECC.”

Source: Department of Energy and Climate Change

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Seven coastal resorts across the country from the South West to the North East are receiving a grant including, Plymouth, Barrow-in-Furness, Fleetwood, St Ives, Roker, North Tyneside and Margate. The Sea Change program, funded by DCMS, is designed to invigorate England’s seaside towns through investment in culture and heritage.

Margaret Hodge, Culture and Tourism Minister, said:

“What I love most about the Sea Change program is the huge variety and diversity of the projects that receive funding. What’s exciting is that many of these grants will enable our seaside towns to celebrate their fantastic heritage and history whilst at the same time making the services and cultural facilities they offer completely relevant for the future.

“Sea Change is all about investing in culture and heritage to stimulate regeneration in coastal towns that are struggling.”

CABE Chief Executive Richard Simmons commenting on behalf of the Sea Change partnership said:

“These seven projects all demonstrate how culture can be a catalyst to recapture the flair that these places enjoyed in their heyday. I especially like the plan to regenerate Dreamland in Margate, and showcase the country’s oldest rollercoaster and a listed scenic railway. It is ambitious projects like this, creating new national attractions, that can rekindle the English love affair with our seaside.”

Margate has been awarded £3.7 million to help fund an ambitious project to rejuvenate the town’s Dreamland Amusement Park. This includes plans to restore a collection of historic amusement rides many of which are the last surviving examples of their type. The listed scenic railway and the oldest surviving rollercoaster in the UK will be restored and the Grade II* listed Dreamland cinema will also be given a face lift.

In North Tyneside a Sea Change grant of £2 million will help transform the Grade II* listed Tynemouth station, arguably one of the finest and most important examples of a Victorian railway station in Britain. The funding will ensure the historic canopies on the building can be repaired, and the plans also include enhancing the existing exhibition space.

A £1 million grant for Roker, in Sunderland will help revive the town as a thriving historic coastal resort. Sea Change funding will be used to create a trail inspired by the area’s heritage and culture and also create an illuminated exhibition space.

The historic fishing industry in St Ives will be celebrated with a Sea Change grant of £900,000 to take forward plans to redevelop and restore the 200 year old Grade II* listed Porthmeor Studios. The complex faces on to the beach and epitomizes the connection between the town, fishing industry and local artists. As part of the project, new studios will be created and two of the old fishermen’s cellars will be refurbished.

Fleetwood, in Wyre will receive funding of £835,000 to create a performance and recreational space on the seafront at the North Parade. The scheme will reflect the viking, roman and neolithic history of the resort. A mythic trail along the coast will be developed and an observation center for local bird and wildlife created, as well as a public art program which will see local artists compete to design and manufacture artwork that will then be displayed in three locations along the coast.

A new visitor center on Piel Island in Barrow-in-Furness will be created with a Sea Change grant of £280,000. The new center housed in a refurbished building at the Grade II listed Ship Inn will also provide information about local heritage and orientation for walkers.

And a development grant of £100,000 for Plymouth will help develop plans for relocating the Plymouth Arts Centre on the Hoe. The plans are for a center that will house two cinemas, as well as education and production spaces along with a cafe.

Source: Department for Culture, Media And Sport

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