Renewable energy on the Isle of Man

• In 2010, Tynwald promised the Isle of Man would produce 15% of its electricity from renewables by 2015

• The Environment Minister decided reducing all CO2 emissions by 10% in 2010 was impractical

• But that producing 15% of electricity from renewables by 2015 was fully achievable

• This action will lead to significant reductions in CO2 emissions

Tynwald

• Overwhelming evidence of rapid global warming

• Little doubt climate change is man-made

• Created by burning fossil fuels (e.g. oil, coal and gas), which are rich in carbon dioxide (CO2)

• Fossil fuels have supported economic growth and ever-improving lifestyles

• Unfortunately there’s been a cost

Climate change

• Climate change will lead to more extreme weather events, including:

o Changes to weather patterns

o Excessive heat

o Heavier rain

o Flooding

o And stronger winds

• For future generations to inherit a planet worth living on, we must take radical action

• There’s general global consensus on the need to reduce CO2 by 80% by 2050

• Our 15:15 renewables target is just a first step

Impact of climate change

Three ways to face climate change:

1. Deny it, as some do

2. Fear it & either bury our heads in the sand or complain that the end is nigh, as some do

3. Fully embrace the opportunities climate change presents

• This is an exciting time – we must reinvent the processes we rely on

• This means new economic growth, driven by a green industrial revolution

How to view climate change

• Oil takes millions of years to form • Peak oil is when global demand

for oil outstrips supply

• At this point prices will rise …• … and then rise a lot more

• IEA has said we’ll hit peak oil in 2020

• Many believe it's already here

• The price of oil affects everything because oil is used to make almost everything

• Price inflation is closely linked to oil price• Just as the Stone Age & Bronze Age

ended – the Oil Age will end

Peak oil

• Most electricity on the Isle of Man is now generated from natural gas

• But peak oil will lead to increased competition & demand for gas

• This will push gas prices higher

• While the Isle of Man’s impact on climate change may be small, the impact of global climate change policy and peak oil and gas on the Isle of Man will be LARGE

Gas

The Exeter University Report (April 2009)

• ‘The wind resource on the IoM is excellent’

• A wind-hydrogen site at the Point of Ayre would yield ‘excellent financial returns’.

Mott MacDonald Report to MEA (April 2009)

Positive:Onshore wind farm would provide fuel savings of £3.2 million per year

Negative:‘Shadow capacity’ requirements, additional maintenance costs & reduced trading opportunities would total £1.5 million per year

Balance:Net fuel cost benefit of wind farm would be £1.7 million per year

(prices based on gas prices reaching 80p/therm )

‘Technical and Economic

Appraisal for Onshore Wind Generation’

£££££

• AEA Technology was commissioned by Tynwald’s Energy & Climate Change Committee

• They looked at costs, benefits & impacts of renewable & low-carbon energy options for IoM

• Renewable energy will play an important role in a clean, green, sustainable future

• This will make us less dependent on foreign energy

• And will make us less vulnerable to global price inflation

The AEA Report (Nov. 2010) : 1

• AEA report considered ….

o Onshore windo Offshore windo Biomasso Anaerobic digestiono Waveo Tidal Currento Tidal lagoono Hydro, solar and other small scale

options

• Report found that our best short-term options are onshore wind, biomass & greater energy efficiency

The AEA Report: 2

• Fast growing crops like willow can be grown as biomass

• When harvested the crop is dried, pelletised & burned to generate heat & power

• The process is more or less carbon neutral – biomass emits only the CO2 absorbed while growing

• Biomass is burned in on-site boilers

• The DEFA building is biomass powered

• The prison & hospital could convert to biomass

• A biomass power station could power an estate

Biomass

• AEA Report said IoM could produce 31,800 oven dry tonnes (odts) of biomass material annually

• The Government estate only accounts for 6,500 odt

• The other 25,300 odts refers to farmland

• This equates to around 10% of all farmland on the Island

• But, if Government guaranteed biomass price for five years, some farmers might take the opportunity

• At a push, we might produce equivalent of 5% of electricity from biomass by 2015

Biomass logistics

• Energy efficiency is crucial

• Around a third of all energy is used in the home

• Insulation is a large opportunity to save energy

• In the past there were grants for insulation

• Around two-thirds of homes are still inadequately insulated

Energy efficiency

• The 15:15 target can only be achieved by including energy from an onshore wind farm

• A single 20 MW onshore wind farm, with 7 – 10 turbines, would produce around 12% of the Isle of Man’s electricity

• Wind is clean, affordable and reliable

Onshore wind energy for the Isle of Man

• Wind farm is planned for 2015

• Key partners are ECCC, MEA, wind farm developers & landowners

• In 12 – 18 months: wind speed data collection

• In 12 – 18 months: appointment of a preferred developer

• The preferred site will be selected

• After which there will be full public consultation

Where are we now?

• We’re concerned the general election could throw this important process off course

• Especially if new MHKs and DEFA & DoI ministers don’t understand about:

o Climate change & peak oil

o Renewable energy

o Electricity supply

o The lengthy process already undertaken

The general election

• MEA makes a deal with a wind farm developer

• Developer builds wind farm at its own expense

• MEA buys electricity from the developer at an agreed rate

• Then the MEA sells it to us

• Three options:

• EITHER as an opt-in Green Tariff aimed at businesses & green-minded people

o Several companies ( incl. M&S and Co-op ) have policies to use renewable electricity

o Many individual families would choose a Green Tariff for ethical reasons

o The Green Tariff could cost about four pence extra per unit

Paying for the wind farm: 1

• OR costs would be shared across all electricity users

o Spread across everyone, the price of electricity would increase by about half-a-penny per unit, at today’s prices

o This small increase would protect against much larger increases when peak oil bites & there’s general global inflation

o Insulation incentives could help reduce what we pay for electricity

• The third option would be a combination of the first two schemes, with lower prices in both categories

Paying for the wind farm: 2

• Onshore wind energy will stay here

• It will be bought by the MEA & distributed through existing infrastructure

• Future offshore wind energy will probably be sold to the UK

Where will the energy go?

• Wind is intermittent, but PREDICTABLE

• Wind turbines generate power for around 65% of the time & are exceptionally efficient

• Sometimes there is no wind, but over the years, turbines produce about 30% of their design’s maximum output

• One 20 Mw on-shore wind farm would produce around 12% of our electricity each year

• (The exact amount will depend where it’s finally located)

Intermittency

• Reserve power sources kick in with zero disruption to electricity supply

• Electricity systems are already made up of a number of power sources

• They are designed to cope efficiently if one goes out of action

• Switching is so fast it doesn’t affect clocks or hospital equipment

• Our wind farm will be grid-connected without significant changes to MEA infrastructure, except the need for ‘shadow capacity’

What happens when the wind stops blowing?

• The world’s first commercial-scale marine turbine is being trialled at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland

• It began producing power in 2008

• The Strangford turbine is working in shallow water

• Manx territorial waters could be leased for research and development of deep water turbines

Is tidal & wave power an option for the Isle of Man? 1.

• AEA report says tidal & wave power are years away from being practical in Manx waters

• Deep water technology is new & relatively untested

• Perhaps in 10 or 20 years time

• At the moment they would require massive investment

• In the meantime, wind’s proven technology means equipment can be manufactured more cheaply

Is tidal & wave power an option for the IoM?

• In due course, we’ll need both on- & off-shore wind farms to meet the necessary CO2 reduction targets

• Our 15% renewables target is just the first step on a long road

• 80% CO2 reductions are needed by 2050

• It’s important to play our part in averting global climate chaos

• This means employing every possible source of renewable energy

Why don’t we put all the wind turbines out at sea?

• RSPB ‘supports a significant growth in offshore & onshore wind power generation in the UK’

• Britain has tight wildlife planning rules that control where wind turbines are built

• RSPB has examined hundreds of applications in the UK & approved 93% of them

• Consequently bird deaths from modern British wind farms are rare

• ( On the other hand, bird deaths from cars, cats, & windows are frequent )

Are wind turbines dangerous for birds?

• If sited close to foraging routes, collision or other harm might be possible

• Natural England recommends 50m between turbines & foraging routes

• Developers ensure bats are led away from the turbines, e.g. by planting new hedgerows

Are wind turbines dangerous for bats?

• There are strict guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions

• In certain wind conditions, some of the bigger turbines make a pulsing noise and so are more suitable in moorland situations

• You can usually stand beneath a turbine & hold a conversation without raising your voice

• The small amount of noise is usually drowned out by the sound of roads, streams, or the wind itself

Are wind turbines noisy?

• Turbines are painted the average colour of the sky: matt light grey

• Our turbines could have rotor diameters of up to 65m

• Size will depend on the chosen site

Wind turbines construction

• The carbon cost of manufacture and installation would be paid back within 6 – 8 months.

• Polls in the British Isles show a clear majority of people in favour of wind farms

• Only 1 in 20 people are against wind farms

• Once wind farms are built, local people find them much less of a problem than they had earlier expected

• A MORI poll in Scotland showed 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a wind farm

• Developers are often asked to provide a visitor centre, viewing platforms & rights of way to sites

• Wind farms are popular with farmers – they get paid rent & can still use the land for growing crops or grazing livestock

Wind turbine opinions

• We need to get serious about ….

o climate changeo phasing-out fossil fuelso using all currently available

renewable technologyo adding newer clean

technologies a.s.a.p.

• a cleaner, greener energy mix for the Isle of Man

Conclusions

Thank you for your timewww.foe.org.im