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Guernsey’s Chief Minister is pushing to start a discussion with Jersey on whether the island’s electricity companies should merge, as both islands consider the role of renewables in their future – but Jersey’s energy leaders are declining to reveal whether the idea would have their support.
Deputy Peter Ferbrache revealed this week that his leading Policy and Resources Committee will be asking the island’s politicians to agree to exploring “closer collaboration” over energy resilience.
Following research by Siemens and PwC on “the challenges for smaller jurisdictions in the current global environment”, Deputy Ferbrache said that his committee had come to the view that “the challenges will be more readily met by a much more collaborative approach on infrastructure and delivery”.
If politicians vote in favour of the Committee’s proposal next week, a review will be undertaken into how Guernsey Electricity Limited (wholly owned by the island’s States) and Jersey Electricity Limited (56% public-owned) might work together more collaboratively, and what the benefits and challenges would be in potentially establishing a single, consolidated Channel Islands electricity delivery model”. This will include direct discussions with Jersey’s Government.
“Greater energy independence should be considered from a Channel Islands community perspective, not solely from a Guernsey perspective,” Deputy Ferbrache said.
It’s unclear whether the move would have support in Jersey, however.
Jersey Electricity said it would not be commenting when contacted by Express.
Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf and Assistant Minister Hilary Jeune, who has political responsibility for energy policy, declined to comment in advance of the debate.
Pictured: Deputy Renouf has previously expressed his support for a wind farm in Jersey's territorial waters.
It comes as Jersey’s Government is exploring the possibility of establishing a wind farm.
Deputy Renouf recently said that Jersey remains "very committed" to the project, which would help with the Government’s ambition to ensure at least half of the island’s electricity comes from renewable energy generated within the island’s territory by 2050. He said that the island could see a completed site within six to eight years.
Guernsey is also exploring the use of wind to meet its future energy needs.
Earlier this summer, an industry giant visited Guernsey to explore the "opportunity" for a similar project in their waters.
Deputy Ferbrache said this week that the Policy and Resources Committee’s “work on exploring the potential arrangements for leasing areas of the seabed to potential offshore wind partners is progressing”.
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Pictured top: The wind farm at Saint Brieuc, not far from Jersey and Guernsey, which are also exploring wind energy.
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