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THE contribution that the cable link has made to reducing local carbon emissions has been underlined by the latest Defra statistics.

However maintaining a policy of sourcing electricity purely on a least cost basis could see carbon emissions rise again in the future.

The Defra statistics show that since electricity imports began in 2001, local carbon emissions due to power production have fallen by 70%. However 2006 saw a sharp increase, which coincided with a peak in on-island generation.

Guernsey Electricity managing director Ian Watson said the company is mandated to provide power from the cheapest source. This determines the balance between imports, the vast majority of which come from low or zero carbon sources, and local production, which relies solely on oil-powered generation.

Although the amount of on-island generation has fallen since the 2006 peak, in its response to the draft Energy Policy consultation Guernsey Electricity said it should be given greater flexibility to favour imports for environmental reasons.

‘Since the cable link was commissioned, it has generally been cheaper to import than to generate on-island during the peak months, and as a result our carbon emissions have fallen significantly. Clearly that has considerable environmental benefits,’ he said.

‘However during the peak months in autumn 2006 there was a sudden fall in the oil price, which meant the balance shifted to local generation. The result was a sharp increase in carbon emissions, albeit not anything like the levels that we used to see before the cable link.

‘It is essential to strike the right balance between economic and environmental performance. Given the current concern regarding carbon emissions and global climate change, we believe there needs to be greater scope to favour imports for environmental reasons. We don’t currently have that ability, but we hope that when the States come to debate the Energy Policy later this year they will look at this seriously.’

Since the cable link was commissioned in 2001, imports have accounted for around 75% of the island’s electricity. In the 12 months to 31 March 2007, which coincided with the fall in oil prices, this fell to just 55%.

However the most recent statistics show that in the 12 months to 31 March 2008, 70% of the island’s electricity was imported. This included nuclear power, but also other zero carbon renewable sources such as wind and hydro power.

Guernsey Electricity still maintains sufficient capacity at the Vale Power Station for full on-island generation in the event of the link to Europe being lost for any reason.

However Mr Watson said there were sound environmental reasons why the island would want to progressively move away from burning fossil fuels as a first option.

‘We’ve already come a long way since the island was entirely reliant on oil for all its electricity needs. I think we need to ensure that we don’t now take a backward step, and instead the island needs to look at ways to increase the amount of power coming from low carbon or renewable sources,’ he said.