November 13, 2021
Isle of Man

Talks on a wind farm for the Isle of Man

Friday, 12 November 2021 | www.iomtoday.co.im

A major development could be on the cards for the Isle of Man following talks at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

The United Nations’ Conference of the Parties is an annual event that brings governments together to discuss and review how climate change is being managed domestically and internationally.

This year at the 26th COP (COP26), a delegation from the island has been sent to attend, including the newly appointed chair of the Climate Change Transformation Board, Daphne Caine MHK.

On Thursday (November 4), Mrs Caine met with Orsted, a Danish multinational power company based in Fredericia, Denmark.

Orsted brands itself as the world leader in offshore wind farming.

It supplies green power for more than 15 million people, with an ambition to increase this figure to 30 million by 2025.

The Manx government signed a lease in 2015 with the renewable energy giant – then known as DONG – to explore the potential for a 700 megawatt wind turbine array.

It was estimated at the time that the scheme would boost the island’s public funds by at least £5 million a year and create more than 50 new local jobs.

Reflecting on the meeting last week, Mrs Caine said: ’I was excited by their enthusiasm to progress developing a wind farm off the east coast, where they already have an Agreement for Lease.

’We explored different benefits that could come from that, renewable energy or revenue or both.’

She added: ’More work is to be undertaken to establish the next steps.’

In May 2019, the Chief Minister recognised the global climate emergency and the need for urgent climate action in the Isle of Man.

The Council of Ministers’ Phase 1 Action Plan quickly followed this declaration, which Tynwald unanimously approved in January 2020.

As a result of this plan, the island is aiming to generate 75% of its electricity by renewable sources by 2035, and to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The precedents for change were set by reports produced by external expert Professor James Curran and the Council of Ministers.

On Thursday, the island’s delegation at COP26 met with Professor James Curran over dinner.

Mrs Caine said: ’He’s the author of the Isle of Man climate action plan (2019) and independent advisor to the Isle of Man climate transformation board until next March.

’Key message: he feels action, sustainability and accountability are our priorities, “especially accountability – for the action we take or don’t take”.’

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/11/13/talks-on-a-wind-farm-for-the-isle-of-man/