THE Environment Minister has stressed there are no risks associated with the Island’s growing reliance on energy imported from France.
Deputy Steve Luce’s comments follow the publication of the 2023 Energy Trends report by Statistics Jersey.
The report highlighted that the proportion of imported electricity has increased significantly, from between 40 to 60% in the 1990s, to 94% in 2023.
A total of 3% is produced by the Energy Recovery Facility and Jersey Electricity solar panels.
Deputy Luce said the “import of electricity from France gives Jersey access to a plentiful and largely carbon neutral source of energy”.
He added: “We do not see any risk to the security or resilience of our supply.”
Deputy Luce said that Jersey maintains “excellent relations” with France and its energy supplier EDF, and has “full access to the integrated European energy market”.
“Jersey retains the ability to generate electricity in the Island if needed,” the minister added.
In 2021, a French government minister threatened to cut off the Island’s electricity supply at the height of a dispute between Jersey and France over post-Brexit fishing rights.
Jersey’s government is currently exploring the potential for a wind farm in the Island’s territorial waters, following a States vote in April.
Plans for the wind farm, which could be 1,000 megawatt and generate surplus power that could be sold to other jurisdictions, are due to be brought back to the States Assembly before the end of the year.
Deputy Luce previously said there “very strong and compelling reasons” to “look seriously at this opportunity, which could give us an important long-term strategic edge in a volatile energy landscape”.
Concerns around the resilience of Jersey’s energy sector were raised in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General published in June.
Lynn Pamment said roles and responsibilities across government were not clear enough and there was no single entity responsible for coordinating energy matters.
