Work has commenced on delivering the Government’s ambitious plans to decarbonise the Isle of Man’s electricity supply by 2030.
The Council of Ministers has given the go-ahead for Manx Utilities to commence work on construction projects which will see up to 30 megawatts of electricity produced from onshore wind and solar energy by 2026.
The Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK said: “Today marks a major milestone in the Isle of Man’s commitment to become a net zero nation by 2050. This ambitious target requires bold initiatives if we are to significantly reduce our carbon emissions and play our part in tackling global warming and climate change.
“Generating electricity is the largest single source of carbon emissions in the Isle of Man, accounting for around 35% of our annual total. In 2020, electricity generation on our Island saw 236,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels.
“This is why we set a goal for the Island’s electricity supply to be carbon neutral by the end of this decade. Included in this was a commitment to generate at least 20 megawatts of electricity on-Island from renewable sources by 2026, and I’m pleased to say that Manx Utilities has proposed plans to improve on this target.
“Delivering on our legally binding climate change commitment to be net zero by 2050 is a key objective of our Island Plan and an important part of ensuring we have an environment we can be proud of.”
The conflict in Ukraine has contributed to the price of gas reaching record highs, which has put pressure on energy bills for everyone. Many countries have been working to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels but this has become more urgent with the economic crisis.