Earystane & Scard windfarm site to be progressed

Area 'appears to offer best value to consumers', says gov't

The green light has been given to progress potential plans for an onshore windfarm in the south of the Island.

A recommendation has been endorsed by the Manx Utilities Board to progress the Earystane & Scard site to the Environmental Impact Assessment and Design stage.

Government says - based on initial assessments by Wardell Armstrong - the area 'appears to offer the best value to electricity consumers of the Isle of Man with the lowest environmental impact when compared to the other option sites.'

The site, officials add, has anticipated wind speeds in excess of ten metres per second which would mean five turbines could deliver up to 130GWh per year, enough to meet one third of the Island's annual demand.

Twelve impact areas will be assessed as part of the next stage of work including noise; landscape & visual; ecology; transport as well as heritage & archaeology.

A Sonic Detection and Ranging Device (SODAR) is already at the Earystane Plantation at the site of the proposed turbines to monitor wind speeds over the next 12 months.

It's planned that will then be moved to Sulby & Druidale after that to provide future data for potential development after 2026.

You can find further information on the Energy Transition for the Island here.