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Earystane is Preferred Windfarm Site
The site was one of two finalists, alongside Sulby.
Earystane and Card has been identified by Manx Utilities as the preferred site for the island’s first wind farm.
The site was one of two finalists, alongside Sulby.
Based on initial assessments undertaken by Wardell Armstrong the MUA said the site ‘appears to offer the best value to the electricity consumers of the Isle of Man with the lowest environmental impact when compared to the other option sites’.
Manx Utilities said: ‘The Earystane and Scard location is one of the windiest locations in the Isle of Man and presents an excellent resource with anticipated wind speeds in excess of 10 metres per second. This would mean that five turbines could potentially deliver up to 130GWh per year; enough to meet one third of the island’s annual demand.
‘The next phase of work involves a full Environmental Impact Assessment focussing on twelve key impact areas. These areas will cover Social (local stakeholders), Noise, Landscape & Visual, Ecology, Energy & Climate, Airport, Water & Flood, Transport, Air Quality, Geotechnical, Heritage & Archaeology, Planning and importantly provides for consultation with the local community.
‘The consultation process will enable island residents the opportunity to find out more about the project, how impacts would be managed and how to actively participate in the design. The Environmental Impact Assessment is expected to be completed in 2025 prior to submission of a planning application.’
A SODAR (Sonic Detection and Ranging Device) has already been installed in Earystane Plantation where all turbines are could be located to monitor wind speed over the next 12 months. Bird and bat surveys have also commenced at Earystane and Scard and will last for a minimum of 18 months to ensure two seasons of data have been gathered.
Figures released as part of the Operational Decision Making document dated July 4 said that the site would cost up to £40m depending on how many wind turbines are built and whether or not they require a landing stage to be built in Castletown.
