Onshore wind farm project within budget - chairman

The initial costs of an onshore wind farm project have been higher than expected but the scheme is still within budget, the chairman of Manx Utilities has said.

John Wannenburgh MHK confirmed £3.14m had so far been spent on "predevelopment costs" for the Cair Vie project at Earystane and Scard in the south of the Isle of Man.

Although "additional survey work" was required after environmental scoping feedback, the government-owned firm believed the plan remained "financially viable", he said.

Concerns were raised about "rising costs" in the House of Keys on Tuesday, with calls for the project to be scrapped or moved to another site.

The proposed plans, which would see up to five turbines built in the area able to deliver a quarter of the island's annual electricity needs, are part of the government's commitment to decarbonise the island's energy supply by 2030.

There were calls by Chris Thomas MHK for the scheme to be moved as the current £40m projected cost was in line with that outlined previously for a scheme at Sulby and Druidale in the north of the island.

Jason Moorhouse MHK questioned if the cost of the project had "almost doubled" when compared to paperwork issued by Manx Utilities in July 2023 that put the price of the scheme at £23.5m.

In response, Wannenburgh said that lower figure had been the "indicative" price of the components needed at the time, but not the full cost of the overall project.

He said predevelopment costs for onshore wind farms were typically 10% to 15% of the overall spend.

That had so far covered ecological surveys, feasibility work, consultants, project management and network connection investigations, he said.

It had also involved engaging with stakeholders, and the additional ecological surveys, which were underway following feedback on the environmental scoping report.

The £40m overall figure was "consistent" with the original costs outlined by Manx Utilities in July 2023 and it would be "irresponsible" to stop the process and relocate, he said.

"We must see the process though from where it is, and we will make final decisions when the final environmental impact assessment is reported," he added.

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