THE potential of the Isle of Man to play a significant role in exporting offshore renewable energy to the UK was discussed last week during the opening of the world’s largest windfarm.
Laurence Skelly MHK, member of the Department of Economic Development with responsibility for energy policy and clean technology, attended the ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness to mark the official launch of the £1.2 billion Walney scheme, off Cumbria.
The Steam Packet has voiced concerns at the planned increase in wind farms in the Irish Sea and the impact they may have on ferry routes.
Mr Skelly, met Ed Davey MP, the UK’s new Energy Secretary, and took the opportunity to highlight the Isle of Man’s huge potential as a supplier of clean power.
‘Mr Davey was interested to hear about the island’s position as a leading advocate of eco technologies and its willingness to embrace new ideas such as the TT Zero clean emissions race,’ Mr Skelly said.
‘I was also able to underline the Isle of Man’s capacity to generate renewable energy in its territorial waters for export to the UK. The island could in future develop a valuable new income stream by assisting the UK to meet its national and European renewable energy targets.
‘Strengthening our relationship with the UK in this area will help to create mutually beneficial opportunities and it’s an issue I’m keen to explore further with Mr Davey.’
Mr Skelly was joined in Barrow-in-Furness by Dr Ken Milne, the Isle of Man’s senior manager for Energy Policy, at the invitation of Danish company Dong Energy.
Whilst at the opening the delegates from the island were given a tour of the operation and maintenance facilities servicing the Walney offshore windfarm, which comprises of 102 turbines generating enough power to meet the needs of 320,000 homes.
Dr Milne said: ‘Maximising the potential of natural resources such as wind, wave and tidal remains an important element of the Isle of Man Government’s renewable energy strategy. Our central location in the Irish Sea opens up exciting possibilities in terms of exploiting the assets within our 12-mile territorial waters.
‘Windfarms in and around our seas could be cabled to a central substation in the Isle of Man and connected to the UK grid. It is technically feasible and could provide a major economic boost to the island in terms of investment, jobs and income generation. It is something we are looking at very seriously.’
The Isle of Man, which has a thriving clean-tech cluster, is considered to be well positioned to contribute to the ‘all islands’ approach to renewable energy agreed by the British-Irish Council.