Manx Utilities announce publicly owned 30MW renewable energy projects

Tue, 18 Jul 2023

The Manx Utilities Authority (MUA) announced today (July 18) that it is ‘on schedule’ to deliver a 20 megawatt (MW) windfarm and 10MW solar power by 2026.

The proposed project was released during Julys Tynwald sitting by Tim Crookall MHK and MUA chairman. The project is set out within the Isle of Man Governments Island Plan and is presently expected to generate upto 40MW of renewable electricity.

According to Crookall using publicy owned estate should “enable the quickest delivery and lowest end-user cost”.

He added: “Alongside an anticipated 10MW of private domestic and commercial installations, Manx Utilities renewable projects will take installed renewable capacity on-island to the 40MW target.”

Wind farms

MUA announced the two sites that have been identified as “potentially suitable” to deliver a 20MW windfarm are Druidale and Sulby in the north and Earystane and Scards in the south of the island.

It said that an “onshore windfarm of this scale could deliver up to 30% of the Island’s electricity needs, subject to final designs”.

“The key benefits of the sites identified are direct access to prevalent south-westerly winds of the appropriate speed, and have been selected in order to minimise environmental impact,” MUA said.

The final decision on which site to “take forward” will be confirmed by the end of summer 2023 after further environmental and technical appraisals.

Solar power

In conjunction with the Department of Infrastructure (DOI), MUA have identified over 30 sites that are “suitable to deliver” a total of 30MW of solar power on public estate.

MUA said: ” The first phase of solar installations will see five locations being progressed with more sites to be identified to reach the 10 Megawatt objective.”

In Tynwald it was announced that the sites identified in phase one are the National Sports Centre (NSC), Nobles Hospital and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Sea Terminal. It proposes to “utilise roof space and car parks” and the Authority believes this will “minimise” ecological impact.

It added that the solar installations are intended to be delivered by local business specialists.

Further projects

MUA told Energy FM that it is working on a variety of other key projects which “support the wider Isle of Man Government target of 100% decarbonised electricity by 2030”.

“These include a second subsea interconnector, consideration of clean controllable generators which will provide an additional level of resilience and security of supply, along with a potential connection to an offshore windfarm.”

It is also introducing an updated green tariff that has been developed for commercial customers that will “provide” businesses with access to certification to demonstrate the purchase of renewable electricity to meet Environmental, Social and Governance objectives.

“Customers are also able to provide renewable generation for their own use through Manx Utilities’ sustainable generation tariff,” it added.

Reporter: Charlie Morrey

 

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