Islands to work together on offshore wind farm concept
GUERNSEY is to work with Jersey in looking into the potential for an offshore wind farm in Channel Islands waters, the president of Environment & Infrastructure has confirmed.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez and Jersey’s Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf have agreed to meet regularly to consider the future and scope of the project.
Deputy Renouf described the prospect of a wind farm to provide power for the Channel Islands as ‘a potentially very exciting project’.
‘We have committed in principle to work together on this,’ said Deputy Renouf.
‘From my point of view we are very keen to explore it and doing so together would absolutely make sense.’
He said he was very committed to continuing talks with Deputy de Sausmarez, and that he hoped they would take place every four to six months.
‘We know that this would work in terms of producing clean energy, and it could also work economically, so from both angles I would be keen to explore it further,’ said Deputy Renouf.
Deputy de Sausmarez confirmed the discussions had started but was unable to comment further yesterday.
Guernsey’s Energy Policy outlined the island’s intentions to be almost entirely reliant on clean and low carbon sources for its energy supply, and minimal carbon emissions.
In an offshore wind pre-feasibility study produced by Jersey Electricity in 2018, it was said that Jersey had significant potential for an offshore wind farm, and that it could supply more than three times the island’s current annual demand.
Jersey Electricity has considered a potential area for a wind farm for Jersey, close to the south-western limit of the island’s territorial waters.
The French authorities have built a major wind farm in the Bay of St Brieuc which is visible from Jersey.
JE chief executive Chris Ambler has said the company remained enthusiastic about generating clean energy from wind.
It is believed that the collaboration between the islands on the project was discussed prior to the carrying out of research reports into renewable energy, constructed mostly by Deputy Carl Meerveld, involving 14 other States members, which has also favoured the use of wind power but has not involved E&I.
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