POWER FROM TIDES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16200, 25 November 1926, Page 14

POWER FROM TIDES

FRENCH ENTERPRISE. LONDON, Oct. 22. Franco, according to a Paris despatch, is ahead of other nations in efforts to darivo power from tides. On the north coast of Britatmy, at Aber-Vrach, an experiment in harnessing the ocean is to be made shortly on a large scale. The tidal flow up and down the small River Diouris is extremely strong, with a height of 25ft. This in itself, of course, is not exceptional, but it is sflieient for the object in view. French engineers expect to obtain from this river a constant supply ot electricity of 3300 horse-power, and this in two years would pay for the construction ot the two dams which are to impound and control the tidal water, and other mechanical installations necessary. If success is obtained at Abcr-Yrach, there is no doubt that similar enterprises will spring up in other countries. The fjords of Scotland and Scandinavia and the inlets of New England, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia fifniish favorable, natural conditions. The Severn barrage scheme is not dead, as many people think. A subcommittee of the Committee of Civil Research has reported that a prima facie case has been Established for further investigations, and these are now going on,

This scheme is one of enormous proportions. It was originally devised by the Ministry of Transport under Sir Eric Geddcte.

A barrage costing £25,000,000 is to be thrown, across the Bristol Channel. It would control such enormous tidal power that it is calculated that it would produce 500,000 horse-power during a ten-hour day, as compared with the 385,500 horse-power generated by Niagara. It, would save 3,000,000 tons of coal a year, and its construction would give work to 250,000 men for seven years.