By Colin Lever
IF Jersey had discovered oil off Corbière back in the sixties we would have invested in it. We now have an opportunity to maximise the economic potential of the latest energy source, wind.
The proposal is for a wind farm that will produce over three gigawatts of electricity. The money from this would help stimulate economic growth and diversity for many years.
But there is a catch.
The plan, if there is a plan, is to pay the two to three billion pounds required via private investment and send the electricity to France for storage and distribution. Money will come to the Island via taxation and ground rent.
In energy terms, Jersey is almost totally dependent on imports, to the tune of around 97%. While our electricity is slightly cheaper than the UK and Europe, we are reliant on France for almost all of it. In the present geo-political turmoil, it would be prudent to seek control of our own energy. Maybe the Channel Islands could work together to fund this (don’t laugh).
We are advised that Jersey does not have the infrastructure capable of processing and storing the electrical energy produced, but the Island requires only a fraction of the capacity of the proposed wind farm. Surely, investing in the resources for this, is feasible?
Factoring in other renewable energy sources, such as solar, would reduce that number and with more efficiencies this figure could be pared down further. All States buildings: schools, hospital etc could/should be solar-driven.
Community wealth building involves not just large anchor institutions such as finance and government but also smaller businesses and, of course, the general public.
Energy consumption is a significant contributor to our high cost of living. If we can reduce our usage, then our energy bills will be cheaper. Appliances that require heat and transport are the two main users of energy that we pay for. Power management is key.
Insulating your home reduces demand and costs. Simple additions such as draught excluders, carpets and curtains help. Most homes now have loft insulation and double glazing, which reduce heat loss considerably. Cavity wall insulation is fitted as standard in new builds but possibly not in older houses.
Lifestyle, how we cook (air fryers?), how we wash and dry clothes, the ambient temperature of our home, the type of transport we use and frequency – all contribute to our energy bills.
For those with a little more capital, heat pumps and solar panels are an option. Look at how many homes and businesses leave lights on when they are not needed. There are smart apps that can control this.
A few years ago, the States conducted an aerial heat survey of the Island to highlight which buildings were “leaking” most heat energy. With modern drone technology, this could easily be repeated to highlight and target where energy
is being lost.
By 2026, it will be compulsory for all properties that are put up for sale to have an energy performance survey. You can get a grant for this. But why not subsidise this for all properties? It is claimed that energy provided via a heat pump is around a third of the cost for gas. The government is offering up to £9,000 to facilitate the change.
The States is a major shareholder of Jersey Electricity (62%). It can influence how much we pay for our electricity. Both Jersey Electricity and our government have a duty to the Island public as well as to shareholders. Is what we pay at present a fair balance? For example, JE provides a return of 9.1p per unit fed back from solar panels. This compares with 27p per unit in the UK (source: Ofgem).
If the Island is looking to create what, for some, is a blot on the horizon then, surely, we must demand more than a tax windfall and nominal ground rent as a return. The Island needs to be significantly more energy resilient. But what would it do with a sudden surge in power? It could, at the very least, bring down energy prices and with it the basic cost of living. It could be the catalyst for transition, from health to wealth and from teaching to transport.
Getting people to part with the old and embrace the new will, arguably, be more challenging than building a 1GW wind farm. There are over 130,000 vehicles on the Island at the moment, a sign of how popular this mode of transport is.
You can argue the case for being more health conscious, but, let us be frank, most of us are just lazy and want to get from A to B in the quickest, most comfortable way we can. Who but the evangelical enjoy a soaking or freezing while waiting for a bus that invariably turns up full?
EVs are beyond the financial reach of most Islanders, but they are getting cheaper, so we are told. Ever thought about e-scooters? Yes, it makes sense to have these on a nine-by-five Island, but we do not all live where we can charge them up. China has developed points that will charge a vehicle as quickly as filling up a car with petrol. Great, but that infrastructure needs to be built.
And for those unable to buy an EV, the buses arrive on time, but their frequency is an issue. Even at 15-minute intervals, many customers are left stranded at peak times. If public transport is to be an option, the buses need to be more frequent, like the tube trains in London. With all the extra income, public transport could be free!
And what of those that wish to walk or cycle? Our network is still incomplete and compromised by traffic, electric or otherwise. No government has yet created an Islandwide cycle network. It is doable. What of the last government’s agreed system of “designated” roads?
We could have cheap electricity within ten years, but the government needs to get real as to the challenges that lie ahead. A proposal for an energy strategy, put forward by Deputy Hilary Jeune, is to be debated in the States today.
Colin Lever is a retired teacher and education specialist, SEND consultant, and commentator on educational and community issues. He also contributes musically to Repair Cafés and charity events and is currently writing and producing a comedy sitcom podcast.
