From Robert Kisch.
RON Davey (JEP, 19 January) examines the St Aubin’s Bay barrage concept. He is quite right to consider the Regenysis (or other) electricity storage system. Tidal flow generating potential is tied to the twelfths rule and barrage storage is similarly intermittent. This smooths out intermittent generation.

Ron Davey himself points out the dangers of debris; I would include sea weed and abrasive matter, all of which increases maintenance costs. Add to this the huge capital cost of the project, relative to the comparatively small energy return.

I argue that even if the project were EU funded, it could be no more than a prestige operation. Jersey could not even remotely consider participation.

More efficient use of energy with insulation, lighting and heating technologies does help to cut the domestic costs. The trap of expensive ‘free energy’ ideas (solar, wind and geothermal) may provide a ‘feel-good’ factor but hits the pocket hard when real costs come into it.

In an endeavour to be constructive, I maintain my argument that nuclear power, by virtue of the energy density factor, remains the only way to go. The revival of international nuclear power programmes demonstrates this.
Villa Martinique,
Chemin du Moulin,
St Ouen.