Sustainable power solutions Isle of Man

Does the Isle of Man import energy from the UK?

The Isle of Man currently imports all of its energy from the UK (with the exception of what is produced from Sulby). In all future models, the Isle of Man remains dependent on GB for the provision of baseload. This is the case even where capacity is increased by building excess renewables, as the stabilisation is still provided by interconnectors.

Will intermittent renewables be profitable for the Isle of Man?

It is unlikely that the export of intermittent renewables will be profitable for the Isle of Man given the reasons outlined in this document. The Isle of Man currently imports all of its energy from the UK (with the exception of what is produced from Sulby).

Can the Isle of Man achieve net zero emissions by 2050?

This requires a unique solution, suitable for the Isle of Man, which takes into account the Island’s current position. The Future Energy Scenarios has highlighted five possible pathways to deliver net zero emissions from electricity by 2050, which also meets the Government’s 2035 target of securing 75% of generation from renewable sources.

Can electricity be decarbonised on the Isle of Man?

Electricity generation is responsible for approximately 33% of all greenhouse gas emissions on the Isle of Man, and a majority of this is currently sourced from fossil fuels (natural gas). Without the decarbonisation1 of electricity, it will not be possible to reduce carbon emissions significantly in other areas such as heating and transport.

Would the Isle of Man need a power purchase agreement?

However, it should be noted that Hydrogen heating is predicted to be more expensive than other renewable alternatives. The Isle of Man would require a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or merchant trading of power to allow export to other jurisdictions. This would also require additional interconnectors between the Island and GB.

How resilient is the electricity supply on the island?

The current level of resilience for electricity supply on the island is considered essential for many of the businesses on the island. The analysis has shown that N-2 resilience can be achieved in all pathways. The higher the level of resilience, the greater the cost.