Protecting the Isle of Man’s biodiversity

Ørsted is developing the Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm, Mooir Vannin, which will support and enhance the Island’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.

By producing clean energy, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting sustainable development, Mooir Vannin offers the Isle of Man a practical way to strengthen its UNESCO Biosphere status. 

It’s a tangible step toward UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.”

It will also contribute towards Goal 8 through the economic benefits the wind farm will bring to the Island from the taxation and seabed rental paid directly to the Isle of Man Treasury, support of local organisations through the Community Investment Fund, job creation and skills training.

In addition, it will support Goal 13 on climate action through the delivery of up to 1.4GW of renewable energy to the Isle of Man and UK electrical grid networks.

The offshore wind farm will balance environmental preservation with economic opportunity, showing that the Island can lead on climate action while protecting its natural heritage.

The Isle of Man is proud to be the world’s first whole nation UNESCO Biosphere Reserve which encompasses the entire island and its territorial seas.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are designated as ”learning places for sustainable development,” promoting and working towards a positive future by connecting people and nature. They are sites for learning and research, testing local solutions to global challenges, generating experience and innovation for a sustainable future.

Compared to generating energy from fossil fuels, offshore wind farms significantly reduce carbon emissions. This means our proposed offshore wind farm is aligned to develop the Island’s economy in a sustainable way.

Ørsted is proud to be a UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man Partner. Mooir Vannin will enhance the Island’s Biosphere status, not damage it. It will support the Island’s ambitious renewable energy and economic growth targets.

By harnessing the winds of the Irish Sea to produce electricity without burning fossil fuels, Mooir Vannin has the potential to reduce the Island’s reliance on electricity generated by power stations that use fossil fuels.

This would reduce carbon emissions and help the Isle of Man meet its net-zero ambitions. The project supports the Isle of Man Government’s Our Island Plan, Net Zero Strategy and Energy Strategy, and aligns with UNESCO’s principles of sustainable development.

Mooir Vannin will support the Biosphere “values” by providing lifetime financial benefits to the Island of around £2 billion, making it a historic opportunity for the Island’s economy.

Contributions to the Isle of Man Treasury through taxation and rent, a Community Investment Fund providing financial support direct to community organisations, and investment in developing a state-of-the-art Operation and Maintenance base in Douglas will all result in significant long-term investment into the sustainable development of the Isle of Man

Ørsted has set an ambition for all its renewable energy projects commissioned from 2030 to deliver net-positive biodiversity impact. Mooir Vannin is the first offshore wind project that we are applying that net-positive biodiversity impact commitment to.  

This means that we seek to avoid, minimise, restore and offset environmental impacts on nature during the lifetime of the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm, and we actively work to contribute to net-positive impact on biodiversity in the places where we operate. 
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We have developed a biodiversity strategy specifically for Mooir Vannin that’s been submitted as part of our Marine Infrastructure Consent application ensuring that it is an integral part of delivering the project through construction, operation and decommissioning.

We will apply a consistent, evidence-based approach to assessing, avoiding, minimising, restoring and offsetting our impacts on nature.

We are working in consultation with a Biodiversity Technical Advisory Group – which includes the Island’s Department of Environment, Food, and Agriculture (DEFA), Manx Wildlife Trust, Manx BirdLife, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch and Manx National Heritage.

It helps ensure that we apply a consistent, evidence-based approach to assessing, avoiding, minimising, restoring and offsetting our impacts on nature.

The framework was published in 2024 and we’re now in the process of applying it to our projects, integrating it with our development process.

As industry leaders, we’ve made the framework public and shared it with our peers with the hope that it can drive more aspirational, collaborative and strategic action on nature. 

Our hope is that together we can achieve a global energy transition with positive outcomes for nature locally, regionally, and globally.   

By producing clean energy, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting sustainable growth, Mooir Vannin offers the Isle of Man a practical way to strengthen its UNESCO Biosphere status and set an example for how communities can help create positive outcomes for nature locally, regionally, and globally.
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