Leasing parts of the territorial seabed for renewable energy generation will boost the Isle of Man's public funds by at least ?5million and create more than 50 local jobs, says the government as it selects its preferred development partners.
DONG Energy is to develop an offshore wind farm within the island's 12-mile limit, while Manx Tidal Energy Ltd and Dutch company Tocardo Tidal Energy Ltd will develop tidal power.
Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly said: 'The offshore energy hub is one of the key strategies in Vision2020, the Government’s long term plan to grow the Isle of Man’s economy. The opportunities for the Isle of Man in renewable energy are significant.
'It is also important to highlight that all the infrastructure costs involved in building and installing the wind farms would be borne by the developer, not the Isle of Man Government.'
The proposed site for the wind farm is off the east coast. Three sites are being investigated for tidal power development at the Point of Ayre (pictured), Calf of Man and Castletown. Surveys are expected to get under way next year.
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