Wind Farm Approval Stalls as Report Calls for Greater Clarity

Jersey’s government has said it needs further information before deciding whether to progress a major offshore wind project, warning that market conditions remain too uncertain to move ahead.

Lawmakers agreed in principle in April 2024 to explore the potential for a wind farm off the island’s south-west coast. However, a new report from the Cabinet Office concludes that launching a leasing process now would be premature due to “market uncertainty, geopolitical risk, and unclear access to export markets.” Even so, the review notes the project could deliver “significant economic benefits” for the island.

Environment Minister Steve Luce said the early work placed Jersey in a “strong position to shape its energy future.”

“This project is about looking ahead and ensuring that the decisions we make today create opportunities for Jersey tomorrow,” he said. Luce added that the government remains committed to an “open, evidence-based approach” as it assesses the island’s prospects in global energy markets.

The report emphasises that no final decision should be taken until market conditions and export arrangements are fully understood and shown to deliver a net benefit for residents. Despite initial talks with officials in the UK and France, it said detailed discussions on market access had not yet been possible.

The Offshore Wind Review Panel said it supported the government’s decision, though it was disappointed by the delay. Panel chair Deputy Hilary Jeune said the proposal offered “significant economic potential” but also carried “substantial costs and risks.”

Jersey Electricity chief executive Chris Ambler also urged a careful approach. While he said the idea was “worth pursuing,” he warned that developing offshore wind infrastructure would be “very costly and not without risk.”

Ambler noted that Jersey would need to build a wind farm large enough to secure competitive pricing, as the island could not absorb all the power generated. Exporting a sizeable share of the electricity to either the UK or France would therefore be essential.

“The question is whether Jersey, given its water depths and wind conditions, can develop a project that is truly economically viable,” he said, adding that he hoped the government would continue to “proceed with caution.”