Tidal power research commissioned

The panel's plans rely on advances in technology

A study into the feasibility of tidal power in Jersey has been commissioned.

The Environment Department is measuring the tidal flow off the north east coast of the island and finding out whether the seabed is suitable for turbines.

Mike Taylor, from the Fisheries and Resources Advisory Panel, said plans to use tidal power to generate electricity were only in the very early stages.

He said tidal power in Jersey was "a long way off" and more technological advances were needed.

Mr Taylor said the panel wanted to build a tidal power plant that was entirely underwater, with turbines on the seabed that generated electricity as the current passed through them.

It's just a germ of an idea and might not happen at all Mike Taylor

"At the moment the idea is that you would see no structures coming out the water."

But he said no such structure currently existed anywhere in the world.

"So one would have to see how technology pans out," he told BBC Jersey.

Alderney has already voted in favour of tidal power, and Guernsey and Sark are working on their own plans.

Before anything can happen an environmental impact assessment, consultation with the fishing industry and a cost benefit analysis must be done, Mr Taylor said.

"It's just a germ of an idea and it might not happen at all.

"If it was to happen it might be 15 or 20 or 25 years away when energy prices possibly are much dearer," he added.