HE hopes it will be the first step towards harnessing power from beneath the waves.

A University of Southampton student is investigating the suitability of Yarmouth Pier on the Isle of Wight as a potential site for capturing energy from the tide.

The strong ebb and flow of the waters beneath the historic pier offers the possibility of capturing useful energy for free.

Bill Lowe, who is studying for an MSc in Maritime Engineering Science, has installed a three-bladed, 1.

2m diameter tidal turbine there with the assistance of Yarmouth Harbour staff.

Such devices look very similar to wind turbines but are designed to work underwater.

As water is much denser than air the tidal speed is equivalent to a wind speed 12 times greater.

"The aim of my project is to assess how much power can be actually generated from the tidal flow under Yarmouth Pier as well as to investigate the practical issues of leaving such a device in the water for a long period of time," Bill told the Daily Echo.

His project is one part of a large body of research activity into energy that is being carried out at the university.

Dr Stephen Turnock, of the university's School of Engineering Sciences, said: "Not all renewable energy generation schemes should be about massive devices.

"Sites such as this can make a valuable contribution to energy needs of local coastal communities as long as the turbines can be made cheaply enough."

Academics are hopeful that this summer's test will allow them to gain invaluable knowledge that will be used to improve future designs.

Chris Lisher, chief executive and Harbour Master for Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners, said: "We are delighted to be able to host this experiment under the pier.

We await the result with great anticipation and hope that this trial shows that generating power is not only possible, but viable under Yarmouth Pier. "

We need an environmentally- friendly source of power which doesn't require vast capital investment and which doesn't blight the landscape.

We ardently hope that this is a first step in providing power from under the sea."