A company that's planning to build the island's first-ever offshore windfarm is to open offices in Douglas soon.

Ørsted's base, in Athol Street, Douglas, will accommodate a development team. It says it will be a 'hub' for the company’s further development of renewable energy projects in the Irish Sea.

The Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm is progressing through the early stages of development after Ørsted and the Isle of Man Government signed an agreement for lease at the end of 2015.

The agreement allowed for investigations of an agreed area within the Isle of Man territorial sea, located about six to12 nautical miles off Maughold Head, on the east coast of the island.

Ørsted has been encouraged to take the next steps in development of large offshore wind in the Isle of Man after Tynwald passed the Climate Change Act in 2021 and set new, ambitious carbon reduction and renewable energy targets last year in the Climate Change Plan 2022-2027.

Windfarm developer
Ørsted’s John Galloway (Ørsted’)

Development director John Galloway said: 'This office is the start of exciting things to come for Ørsted in the island. We will continue to work hard with local stakeholders in the coming months and years to design a project that truly supports the Isle of Man Government’s own net zero ambitions.'

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK, said: 'I am delighted that Ørsted have chosen to open an office on the Isle of Man.

'Renewable energy and its benefits are becoming much clearer and there is the additional benefit of new jobs and developing technologies.”'

Mr Galloway added: '“With the climate emergency continuing, we recognise the importance of taking action now.

'This is going to be a once in a generation opportunity for the Isle of Man to explore energy security and independence, pioneer how to export offshore wind power to neighbouring nations and bring real economic benefits to local organisations and businesses.

View from Maughold Head

'At Ørsted we always take great care to listen to the concerns of the local communities that we’re helping make the transition to a green economy. As the Isle of Man Offshore Wind Farm is developed over the coming months and years, we will be making sure the whole community is engaged and a part of the design process at every stage.'

Ørsted has 13 operational offshore wind farms in the UK, providing 6.2GW of renewable electricity for the UK – enough to power more than seven million homes.

Wind Farms, visible from Windy Corner. They are not in Manx waters (Johnston Press)

This includes six offshore wind farm projects located in the Irish Sea between the UK and the Isle of Man. Its newest array, Hornsea Two off the coast of Yorkshire, is the world’s largest offshore wind farm and makes a significant contribution to Ørsted’s global ambition of installing 30 GW (Gigawatts) offshore wind by 2030.

Globally, Ørsted currently has about 8.9 GW offshore wind in operation, around 2.2 GW under construction and another almost 11 GW of awarded capacity under development.

Click here to see the company's website.