Developer Peel Cubico Renewables has released plans for the Isle of Man’s first utility-scale solar farm.
When operational in 2024, the 26MW Billown Solar Farm at Malew, close to Castletown, will provide enough energy to satisfy more than 5% of the Isle of Man’s electrical needs.
The new facility, which would be built on 84 acres of agricultural land to the west of Malew Road (A3) and south of Douglas Road, is being discussed with island residents (A7).
Plans call for a local grid network to be connected to an on-site substation.
In addition, a battery storage plant would store electricity produced while demand was low and distribute it back to the grid when it was high or the network was down.
Over the course of the project’s expected 40-year lifespan, the investment will total about £30 million.
Peel Cubico Renewables is a partnership established a year ago between Cubico Sustainable Investments and the natural resources and energy company Peel NRE (a division of Peel L&P).
Planning & Development Manager at Peel Cubico Renewables, Stephen Snowdon, said “Our vision for this solar farm supports both the Isle of Man’s response to climate change and the Government’s ambitions for renewable energy projects to help secure a bright economic future for the Island.”
“We also recognise the cost-of-living crisis facing Island consumers and believe that the Billown solar scheme will offer a fantastic opportunity for stable, low-cost green energy to be made available to all Island residents and businesses.”
“The development could be operational by 2024 and is a no-regrets hedge against future price volatility for the Island as well as a huge opportunity for the Island to take control over its long-term energy needs by exploiting its own abundant indigenous and renewable energy resources for benefit of Manx consumers.”
