Feb 18 - BBC Monitoring Americas

 

Support has poured in for innovative plans to sink an underwater power generator in the sea off Bermuda.

The Bermuda Electric Light Company (Belco), the island's sole power supplier, unveiled the pioneering green scheme this week, revealing how it would capture ocean currents to initially provide nearly 10 per cent of the island's electricity needs.

Belco has struck a 20-year deal with US company Current to Current that could see a generator almost the size of a football pitch used for the first time in the world in south shore waters. The idea to use mother nature to help power the island has received the backing of marine and conservation experts.

Dr Tony Knap, president and director of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, called the proposal "an innovative idea".

He said deep ocean currents in Bermuda never stopped running, making the sea-based source of power more efficient than large wind turbines.

Knap said the gear mechanism inside the ocean generator, due to be sunk between 75 and 200 metres below sea level, meant that even slow currents could be turned into high power.

Belco and Current to Current will not revealed the location of the proposed underwater unit until research has been carried out to find a suitable site with the strongest currents. Planning permission from government would then be needed before a pilot generator is sunk.

Knap said the Biological Station was now helping in that search for the right location by taking sound profiles of the ocean. He said tests and research were needed to ensure the scheme was safe and would not damage marine life, but he added: "First impressions are that this is a very interesting thing to do.

"I'm really pleased that Bermuda was able to pull this off. The technology is amazing. There has been other sea-based power equipment in the past, but they had high speed blades."

The gear mechanism in the Current to Current unit allows the blades inside the 150-foot long generator to turn slowly. Belco says this will allow fish and other marine life to safely swim through.

Knap also praised the scheme for helping to cut the island's reliance on fossil fuels, which in turn, will curb carbon emissions.

Bermuda National Trust director Steven Conway backed Belco's "bold step".

"The need to reduce emissions and lessen the island's dependence on fossil fuels is vital to sustainable development and the self- sufficiency of the island.

"We see this as an important initiative that will pave the way for the future to provide an alternative and cleaner means of power supply to meet Bermuda's current and future energy demands."

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said she was pleased alternative energy sources were being seriously investigated.