Will a windfarm make electricity cheaper?

The cost of electricity generated from onshore wind is expected to be <5p/kWh. This is lower than the cost of electricity generated from gas. The cost of electricity generated from onshore windfarms is generally lower than the cost of electricity generated from a new, traditional power station.

It is difficult to predict whether the overall cost of electricity will be cheaper in the future because our electricity is currently still tied to the cost of gas. However it is likely that it will be less expensive with some onshore wind generation than it would otherwise have been without.

As windfarms are not reliant on a fuel that has to be purchased and imported to the island, the Isle of Man will have greater independence from energy markets in other jurisdictions and so tariffs will be less exposed to significant increases and instability in wholesale fuel costs elsewhere. 

As windfarms are not reliant on imported fuels, they can help us be more independent, self-sufficient and insulate us from external energy price volatility and uncertainty, utilising our own natural resources instead of importing and relying on the UK for our energy.

It is also worth noting that once a windfarm has been constructed there are no fuel costs associated with generation of electricity for the life of the project, which helps to avoid increases of price in the future.