Southend looks at tidal and wave for power

Southend Council is exploring options to generate power from tidal and wave energy resources.

The council of the coastal town of Southend, Essex, UK, has set aside £250,000 to explore different power generating options, including the assessment into the feasibility of wave and tidal energy, and solar PV and battery energy.

According to the Council, separate studies would be needed as the industries differ, with tidal energy being more advanced than wave energy.

The deployment of both tidal and wave will be subject to a constraint that no additional load is to be placed on the pier with devices generally tethered to the sea bed rather than the pier, the Council said in a budget proposition for projects running until 2021.

“We want to do a study into wave and tidal energy. We’re looking at what we can do. We’ve been looking at Horizon 2020’s work and tidal power which could bring in revenue,” Ann Holland, Councillor responsible for culture, tourism and the economy, was quoted as saying by the Southend Standard.

The scheme is to be funded from the capital reserve with an element to be funded from third party contributions, the Council noted.