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WQ.73/2024
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 11th MARCH 2024 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 18th MARCH 2024
Question
“Further to the lodging of ‘Offshore Wind’ (P.82/2023) by the previous Council of Ministers, will the Minister advise –
- whether he has given any consideration to discontinuing the proposed project and, if not, why not;
- what estimate, if any, the Government has undertaken of the impact the development of a wind farm would have on Islanders’ consumption costs;
- whether any talks in respect of the development of a wind farm in the southwest of Jersey’s territorial waters have been held with the French Government and, if not, whether (and when) any such talks will be held;
- what consideration, if any, has been given to the impact on the levels of energy supplied by France; and
- whether there have been any talks with private investors and, if not, why not?”
Answer
- whether he has given any consideration to discontinuing the proposed project and, if not, why not;
Since taking office the project has been focused on concluding the public consultation in order to support the States Assembly to consider the issues when it debates P.82/2023. I felt it right that this work should conclude as planned as many islanders have taken the time to engage and will rightly expect their opinions to be considered.
The future of the project is very much in the hands of the States Assembly and will proceed (or not) based on the outcome of the forthcoming debate.
- what estimate, if any, the Government has undertaken of the impact the development of a wind farm would have on Islanders’ consumption costs;
There are still many outstanding questions about the development of offshore wind that are not answered. Work on these will follow if the States Assembly give its in principle support to the project.
At this stage, a qualitative assessment of different development scenarios has been undertaken to understand where the impacts of these scenarios might land. It will not be possible to model the quantified impacts until further decisions are taken. For example, if the wind farm was established solely to export power, with no direct interface with Jersey’s domestic electricity system, then there may be no impacts.
- whether any talks in respect of the development of a wind farm in the southwest of Jersey’s territorial waters have been held with the French Government and, if not, whether (and when) any such talks will be held;
Initial talks have been held with French partners at both regional and national levels. These have been constructive and welcomed by both sides and have considered a range of issues that are helpfully set out in the contribution made by the French Government to Jerseys public consultation, which is published in the consultation report.
- what consideration, if any, has been given to the impact on the levels of energy supplied by France; and
As above, the potential for an impact is recognised but it is not yet possible to assess either the scale or nature of impacts.
- whether there have been any talks with private investors and, if not, why not?”
Some initial and without prejudice discussions have been held with potential developers on a reactive basis (i.e. where a meeting has been requested with government).
Should the States Assembly give its in principle support to the project, a programme of proactive industry engagement would begin.