Plans to construct three tidal energy sites in the island’s waters have been scuttled, three years after they were announced.

The plans, to build generators off the Point of Ayre, Langness Point and Kitterland were announced to a wave of publicity almost exactly three years ago on October 12, 2015.

The agreement to allow Manx Tidal Energy to explore the sites was seen as a way to boost the island’s economy and provide clean energy.

Then Infrastructure Minister and former MHK Phil Gawne said at the time: ’The opportunities for the Isle of Man in renewable energy are significant.

’Leasing parts of our seabed to offshore tidal developers will generate substantial revenue directly to the Isle of Man Government, helping to fund public services as well as lowering our carbon footprint.’

The company had said that the Point of Ayre had the potential for 120 megawatts of energy, Langness 60MW and Kitterland 30MW.

However, the companies registry shows that Manx Tidal Energy and parent company Derillion Energy Ltd were both dissolved earlier this year on April 4.

It appears that the most likely forms of renewable energy will be wind and solar.

However, schemes are running behind.

The Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, Geoffrey Boot MHK, has previously admitted the Vision 2020 scheme, which was designed to create an offshore energy hub and was launched in 2014, was ’probably optimistic, in retrospect’.

In 2015, wind farm specialists DONG, now Orsted, was awarded the rights to explore the potential for a wind farm.

It gave the company the right to investigate an area about six to 12 miles off the east coast of the island to determine its suitability for a wind farm.

It was estimated at the time it would boost the island’s public funds by at least £5 million a year and create more than 50 new local jobs.

The company then carried out two years worth of studies. However, with a target of 2023 for completion, there has bene little movement on the project since.

An Orsted spokesman told the Examiner: ’We are continuing with initial survey work on the project and construction will take place post 2020, subject to gaining the necessary consents.’

The DoI’s harbour strategy, launched in March outlines an intention to promote wind power development.

The document states wind farms are part of ’potential untapped market for commercial berthing activity . . . and something the department is keen to explore’.

Plans for Douglas harbour also include details for space for ’the installation of wind farm support vessel facilities’.