Wind farm timing could be critical
‘MINISTERS will continue their fact-finding and close ongoing dialogue with counterparts in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, to understand and explore any shared opportunities that might arise.’ So said Jersey Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf as he formally launched that island’s push to develop a wind farm off its south-west coast.
Just a few weeks ago, we have politicians saying don’t trust Jersey, if the track record of cooperation over the island’s cable link with France is anything to go by. Then, as if that never happened, Jersey is proffering the olive branch of a share in a wind farm and we are indicating that we are interested – in talking about it at least.
The wind farm is expected to generate six times Jersey’s current electricity demand, and twice what it needs if the whole island turned electric. The intention is to construct, fund and operate the farm with private investment only – and no public subsidy. The prospectus sounds promising.
While it appears likely that Guernsey could be no more than a customer of this project, it certainly makes sense to prolong the conversation.
Talks about a local project are likely to continue too, though it seems close to daft to pursue a similar scheme ‘next door’, unless it would be genuinely possible to find funding and get a project in the water at virtually no cost. This is an increasingly competitive marketplace where timing might be everything.