WHILE governments pretend to be getting a grip on accelerating carbon perhaps we could all start talking about serious solutions to the mess we are in.

Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) has signed a pivotal agreement with Orbital Marine Power Limited (Orbital), developer of the world’s most powerful tidal turbine, the Orbital O2, to bring the Isle of Wight a step closer to producing tidal energy.

PTEC has obtained offshore consents to place tidal turbines in the sea off the south coast of the Isle of Wight.

The area has strong currents and is suitable for a wide range of tidal technologies.

Scottish engineering company Orbital is the first company to sign up with an initial target deployment of up to 15 MW by the end of 2025.

Orbital was successfully tested in power generation mode on Earth Day this year.

The O2 will be capable of meeting the electricity demand of over 1,700 UK homes every year.

What a great boost for safe, reliable, green energy in the UK.

Rather better news than the radioactive leak in the primary circuit – which contains the nuclear fuel – in EDF’s reactor in China.

How bad is the leak and will Hinkley (and all those others) be impacted?

SUSAN CHAPMAN

Parkwood Road, Southbourne