Deputy Adrian Gabriel says the project is currently in the ‘middle of the middle’ and no one should expect to see any wind turbines around Guernsey’s shores in the next few years. But the Environment & Infrastructure president said the level of interest was very encouraging.
‘The south coast of the UK is crying out for energy. All of the wind farms are either in Norfolk or Scotland. So there’s not much energy down on the south coast. It’s pretty much an exciting time for developers, they’re itching to break new ground and provide energy solutions, so we are in constant contact.’
Despite quoting the south coast of the UK, Deputy Gabriel makes clear that no decision has been taken yet over whether any wind power generated in local waters would be brought ashore in France or Britain. The only thing he is clear about is that it won’t come via the island.
‘It will likely be on such a large scale that it will be impossible to divert energy to Guernsey, so it’s going for export.’
While encouraged by the level of interest being expressed by developers, the E&I president makes clear the OWDB is not yet ready to start any tendering process.
‘At the moment we are defining what a lease looks like, defining ownership of the seabed, and deciding which market our offshore wind energy should go to.’
Policy & Resources president Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez has said one of the reasons her committee had been able to water down some tax-raising measures was because of the prospect of new revenue streams coming on tap over the coming years. She said one of those was the potential income from leasing areas of our seabed to wind farm operators. Deputy Gabriel said she was right to be optimistic.
‘There are takers queuing up, you know not in their tens, but more than several, they are ready and willing.’