Seabed exploration begins for offshore wind farm plan

A device called an uncrewed surface vessel will conduct the surveys

Seabed surveys are due to start shortly to gather "essential data" for a project to build the Isle of Man’s first offshore wind farm.

Energy firm Orsted has contracted ocean surveyors XOCEAN to conduct up to five weeks of geophysical surveys in an area spanning six to 12 nautical miles (11.1km to 22.2km), off Maughold.

The company will also investigate possible cable routes from farm to the island by surveying the seabed in and around Douglas Bay and Douglas Harbour.

Orsted's development director, John Galloway, said the investigations would provide data about the "suitability of the seabed" for the £4bn scheme.

The survey firm will use a device, called an uncrewed surface vessel (USV), to gather the data to inform decisions about suitable locations for turbines and electricity cables, Orsted said.

'Postive feedback'

The Danish energy giant, which was previously called Dong Energy, was granted a lease to explore the potential for a wind farm in 2015.

It already has eight wind farms in the Irish Sea, including the Walney extension project, which is one of the world's largest arrays.

The Manx project includes plans for 100 turbines to generate about 1.4 gigawatts, with 80 to 100 megawatts potentially "supplied directly" to the island and any excess electricity exported.

The proposals for the wind farm are in an area off the eastern coast from Maughold Head

Orsted said the surveys followed "positive feedback" at community drop-in sessions held across the island in November last year.

A report with the key findings and feedback from those is due to be released in the coming days, alongside a projected timeline for development.

Further consultation events are also set to be held throughout the summer and the firm intends to submit a planning application in 2025.

The Manx government has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and plans to shift to green electricity generation by 2030.