John Galloway, Ørsted Development Director for the Isle of Man Offshore Wind Farm
The Isle of Man has a tremendous opportunity to be a global leader in the green energy transition.
We have all seen the impact that climate change is having in nations around the world. From rising sea levels to winter flooding and summer heatwaves, the impacts of climate change are real and happening now.
With the vast wind resources in the Irish Sea, and the political will now demonstrated in Tynwald by the passing of the Climate Change Act in 2021, the Isle of Man is well positioned to tackle the climate crisis, ensure the Island’s energy security and benefit from the growth in the green energy industry.
The Island should be a pioneer for other Island nations – demonstrating how to develop and accommodate large scale renewable projects above and beyond local needs, export to neighbouring nations, and help make a sizeable contribution to global carbon emissions reduction.
At Ørsted, we’ve gone through our own green transformation. We were once one of the most fossil fuel-intensive energy companies in Europe, now we’re one of the world’s most sustainable companies and a renewable energy leader.
We are eager to partner with stakeholders and communities across the Isle of Man as the Island transforms and seizes a once in a generation opportunity to take part in the global green industrial revolution.
Ambitious and achievable goals
"The development of renewable energy projects can help guarantee the Isle of Man’s future energy security, create new green jobs, and attract long-term investment in the local community.”
In 2021, the Isle of Man pledged to take urgent action to acknowledge and tackle the global climate crisis when Tynwald passed the Climate Change Act – setting a roadmap towards carbon reduction and renewable energy targets.
In October 2022, Tynwald further committed with the first Climate Change Plan 2022-27 to set its sights on net-zero emissions by 2050 and 100% renewable electricity generation by 2030.
These are ambitious, but achievable, goals.
If you look historically at the Isle of Man’s economy, it has always pioneered in innovative industries. Whether in telecoms, e-Gaming, financial services, or insurance, in global sectors it has always punched above its weight in terms of impact – creating new jobs and the skills, experience, and training for home grown talent.
The global green energy transition offers another opportunity for the Island to lead the way and show other nations how they can adapt quickly and innovate to create a more sustainable future.
The development of renewable energy projects can help guarantee the Isle of Man’s future energy security, create new green jobs, and attract long-term investment in the local community.
Developing the Island’s first offshore wind farm
At Ørsted, we’re already working with the Isle of Man Government to help usher in the green transition.
Ørsted and the Isle of Man Government signed an Agreement for Lease at the end of 2015, giving Ørsted the right to investigate an area within the Isle of Man Territorial Seas, approximately 6-12 nautical miles off the east coast of the Island, to determine its suitability for an offshore wind farm.
In the years since then, we have completed several environmental surveys and technical studies in the area for lease to scope the feasibility and scale of the opportunity to build the Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm.
The area for lease awarded in 2015 that Ørsted has been surveying to determine suitability for the Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm.
“The time is now to be a
green energy pioneer.”
Our approach is to work closely with local stakeholders and communities – we want to make sure we design and develop an offshore wind farm in the Island, from the Island, for the Island. That is why we have secured our office in Athol Street, will be basing our project development team here and in the coming months and years consulting with the whole community on our plans.
We are confident that the Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm can bring the nation an opportunity to explore green energy independence, as well as real economic benefits through direct investment, revenue to Government and community benefit funds supporting local organisations and charities across the Island. We will also share our knowledge and experience from the development and operation of renewable energy projects around the world with local businesses and Government, as the wider economy transforms.
At Ørsted we believe that we are developing more than the country’s first offshore wind farm – we are helping the Isle of Man play its part in the global fight against climate change.
The time is now to be a green energy pioneer.
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