Manannan Energy is Manx company founded to deliver green energy to our Island community. It is owned and managed by the team at United Renewables, who are experts in the delivery of renewable energy, with specialist skills and experience in wind power, solar energy, anaerobic digestion, and hydroelectricity projects.

The company is committed to helping the Island reach their climate goals by the introduction of wind energy and a increased scale of solar energy. The Island will not only benefit from the introduction of clean, green, renewable energy, but also the creation of new jobs and a noticeable boost to the local economy during the construction phase. Additionally, the company has pledged to support various community programmes that will benefit the whole island.

Ultimately, Manannan Energy’s mission is to help the Isle of Man become greener nation in line with its prestigious Unesco Biosphere status, and to set up a safe, secure, and sustainable future for generations to come.

The Isle of Man has committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, so we need to take immediate action. We all know that fossil fuels are depleting at a steady rate and following Cop 26, a number of countries have pledged to phase out fossil fuel extraction.

Renewable energy sources are much cleaner than fossil fuels and they are essential if we are to achieve net zero status by 2050. Harnessing our own green energy would build the Island’s resilience and put us in full control of our energy resources, rather than being dependent on the U.K., Ireland or somewhere further afield.

What’s more, the Island will become more attractive to potential investors and global organisations that have a strong ESG mandate. Embracing renewable energy, will strengthen and grow our economy.

Isle of Man Government Cabinet Office, through ‘The Climate Change Mitigation Strategy’, recently conducted a survey. It reported 80% of those surveyed supported onshore wind generation on the Isle of Man, and 86% of respondents supported the installation of renewables before 2030.

Wind turbines work on a simple principle: instead of using electricity to make wind—like a fan—wind turbines use wind to make electricity. Wind turns the propeller-like blades of a turbine around a rotor, which spins a generator, which creates electricity.

Wind turbine blades rotate when hit by the wind. And this doesn’t have to be a strong wind, either: the blades of most turbines will start turning at a wind speed of 3-5 meters per second, which is a gentle breeze. It’s this spinning motion that turns a shaft in the nacelle – which is the box-like structure at the top of a wind turbine.

A generator built into the nacelle then converts the kinetic energy of the turning shaft into electrical energy. This then passes through a transformer, which steps up the voltage so it can be transported on the grid for public use or harnessed by a local site.

A onshore wind turbine with the capacity of 3 megawatts (MW) can produce over 6 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity every year. According to IOM Treasury, the average electricity use per household is 3,300kWh therefore that one turbine can meet the demand of over 1,810 average Manx households. Up to a certain level, the faster the wind blows, the more electricity is generated. In fact, when the wind speed doubles, up to eight times more electricity is generated.

The siting of wind turbines is carefully planned and analysed to make sure they are in locations with a reliable amount of wind all year round. This tends to be on the summit of a hilltop with lots of open space around, and in coastal locations.

The Isle of Man’s exposed position on the north-western edge of Europe makes it particularly windy – in fact, the Island is one of the windiest locations in the European continent. The wind is present all year round, making wind power a reliable renewable power source. It also tends to be especially windy in the winter months, so the wind turbines can produce more power when we need it most.

These points endorse the view that the Isle of Man is well positioned to make the most of offshore and onshore wind power, and significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.