Ørsted give update about Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm

Ørsted – the business behind proposals for the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm – say they are ‘encouraged’ by public responses during the recent consultation period.
The community consultation was held between July and September offering residents across the Island a chance to find out about the secure green energy and economic benefits it could bring to the Island, full details about the proposals, plus opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback.

Detailed information was available online, a booklet was delivered to over 43,000 residential addresses, and news updates were shared across print, online and broadcast media. A series of public events was held in Laxey, Ramsey, Douglas, Peel, Port Erin and the Royal Manx Agricultural Show. All the events featured display boards and a chance to speak directly to the Mooir Vannin team. Visitors also had the chance to use VR headsets to see what the wind farm could look like from four different locations on the Island’s east coast. During the consultation period, the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm team held meetings with Isle of Man Government departments and agencies, local authorities, business groups, and third sector organisations, which was all part of an ongoing key stakeholder engagement programme. Ørsted gave a presentation about the Mooir Vannin proposals at the recent Isle of Man Government conference.

John Galloway, Ørsted Development Director for the Isle of Man, said: “We would like to thank everyone who took the time to take part in the community consultation on the Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm. The feedback has demonstrated a high level of interest and knowledge about the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm, which is very encouraging. We have received support from residents who share our enthusiasm for the economic and secure green energy benefits that the wind farm could provide for during its 35-year operational lifetime.

“We would also like to thank members of the public for the questions and concerns raised, and these will all be carefully considered and shared in a detailed Consultation Report. It is important to note the plans we presented for consultation were a maximum design scenario that shows the potential impact of the greatest size, number and widest spread of turbines at the closest edge to the shore. Our proposals will now be reviewed, refined, and adapted ahead of submitting a planning application next year.

“We’re continuing work with Manx Utilities, proposing a link that can provide enough electricity for the Island’s future energy demand utilising the Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm – Mooir Vannin. We’re also continuing to work with departments across Isle of Man Government on how the full economic benefits of the project can be secured and delivered for the long term, across the whole community.”

The consultation period ran from 15 July to 11 September 2024. Whilst the consultation period has closed, detailed information, including all visualisations of the wind farm from the east coast, can be found at: orsted.im/mooirvannin/document-library

Ørsted is one of the world's most sustainable energy companies. It is a major player in the UK’s green energy strategy where it currently operates 12 offshore wind farms, with more in the pipeline. In the North Sea, Hornsea 1 and 2 are operational and plans are on track for Hornsea 3 and 4. When Hornsea 3 is completed it will increase the wind farm’s total capacity to 5 Gigawatts, making Hornsea the world’s largest offshore wind zone and providing electricity to around 5 million homes.