States needs to stop hoping and make an energy strategy work

Immediately after Liberation, the major energy source for Guernsey was coal; to heat greenhouses and homes and to make Town’s gas for lighting, cooking and heating in homes and tourist establishments.

Electricity had always been here since the beginning of the century for the quarry industry’s cranes and crushers; first from coal, later from oil. Of course the rapid growth of motor vehicles resulted in an ever-increasing consumption of petrol and later, diesel.

With nearly full employment, the laborious handling of coal, often 24/7, proved to be both expensive and fraught with problems. Thus the introduction of oil that enabled a significant amount of automation was welcomed by the growing industry. Later the development of North Sea gas cleaned-up that product and suddenly there was little call for coal. Oil became king.

Meanwhile, France had been successful in developing nuclear-powered electricity generation, and so it was no surprise when Jersey justified a cable to Normandy to join the European grid. It did take time for Guernsey to realise the benefits, but eventually the link was made.

So now we have three energy sources for our island – oil (cheapest), gas (mid-range cost), and electricity, the most expensive.

The final influencing factor has become the worldwide wish to stop using fossil fuels to create energy in an effort to slow down global warming. As a community Guernsey has accepted that need to stop using coal, oil and gas.

So quite soon sustainably-sourced electricity will be our sole energy source. Annual expenditure on energy per islander will double or more.

This is the bullet we islanders have to grasp. We will have to allow twice as much expenditure for lighting, heating, transport and other needs within a very short time.

Can we generate our own electricity? Even though that might not be cheaper, it might feel better. Tidal energy is undoubtedly a solution, but nobody has been successful in keeping out the tiny crustacea that creep into every moving part of every trial generator, causing massive cost escalation. Wind is proving ideal for the UK and Europe, but Sir Ian Chapman explained that Guernsey’s relatively small usage was too little to fund the required infrastructure. Even micro nuclear power plants sound exciting, but for safety they need three miles clear ground all around.

Solar is probably the best bet. When tomato was king, agricultural fields were allowed to be temporarily covered in glass – well why not use the same law with slight changes to allow elevated arrays of panels that allow farming and horticulture underneath? It might provide the finance to clear some of the derelict vineries and keep some money in Guernsey. It would not need to be permanent as science will change everything within 50 years.

The energy that we will need in future is going to take a much bigger chunk of our earnings and we are just going to have to get used to it. The States needs to stop closing its eyes and hoping. It needs to get on with making it all work.

Roy Bisson

St Martin’s