Tidal’s the way

Whatever the causation, the recent peat slides coupled with data in Viking Energy’s environmental impact assessment are showing reason for grave concerns regarding the safety of the VE project.

It is my belief it would be a very brave or foolish engineer who would section the proposed floating tracks/roads (100 plus kilometres) across soft deep peat, as envisaged in the present plan. For that reason and that alone I believe VE as it stands at present will fail.

I do however have great optimism that at last a serious project for tidal energy is being undertaken in Bluemull Sound. That is a potentially far less environmentally damaging and theoretically a far more predictable and powerful source of reliable green clean energy.

Environmentally, with proper scientific (ecological and marine zoological) oversight, a series of sub surface turbines may well improve the marine environment – a sharp contrast to the environmental impact of land based turbines.

Advertisement8 of 10

It has been shown in many studies submerged, man-made objects often improve marine biodiversity dramatically. Any angler who fishes shipwrecks has long known the same. Artificial reefs have been created in marine protection areas by deliberately sinking ships in strategic areas.

Have we not here a chance to create a marine protection area in Bluemull Sound with environmentally enhancing subsea structures, part tidal barrages and subsea turbines and maybe biologically pollution free scrap from dissembled North Sea rigs?

That would be a great step forward on Viking – clean, safe, innovative and modern cutting edge green technology.

That could be way the forward Shetland. We have marine zoologists in abundance, engineers and the NAFC. We even have a marine zoologist in the council, a science trained brain in the SIC at last – think on that.

Ian Tinkler
Clousta