Tessa Munt
Main Page: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)(10 years, 8 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Paul Flynn
I am aware of the high costs that are put in for all renewables, but at least renewables provide a power source for the future that is free, and has other benefits. The site at Hinkley Point is based on an estuary where there was a tsunami a while ago.
Tessa Munt (Wells) (LD)
I am sure the hon. Gentleman is aware that the intention is that the price of tidal power will be far lower than nuclear after we have perhaps five or six tidal lagoons in place.
Paul Flynn
As I say, rather than looking into the crystal ball, we can look back at what has happened at La Rance, which produces the cheapest power in the world. It was opened in 1966 but the turbines are still in pristine condition. The dredging on the River Parrett, which the hon. Lady will know about, often increases flooding, but if we created a system whereby we used that water by allowing whatever is fitted there to generate energy, we would have a great improvement in flood defences, as at La Rance.
The Government’s mind seems to be closed to the possibilities of marine power. There are other ways of using it; it is not necessary to build a brick wall across an estuary. Movable turbines can be put in or wave power can be used—there is a whole range of possibilities. Yet there is no kind of push towards that. There is no vested interest saying, “This is what our future should be.” Marine power is the great neglected source that we continue to neglect at our peril. It provides energy that is benign, does not threaten the environment, and will be there eternally.