Jersey's offshore wind proposals
Using offshore wind power has the potential to bring environmental, social and economic benefits for Jersey.
In April 2024 the States Assembly agreed to explore the opportunities arising from development of an offshore wind farm in the south west of Jersey’s territorial waters.
In November 2025 we published an update report which included technical advice.
Report on the potential of offshore wind energy for Jersey November 2025
A wind farm with a capacity of 1,000 megawatt (MW), which is the smallest size that works in today’s market, would produce much more power than we currently use. As a result, we are currently exploring options for exporting energy to other markets.
Further technical guidance and supporting documentation, which form part of the policy appraisal process, can be found below.
Our progress so far The key milestones for this work to date are as follows.
2025
A States Assembly report was published on the results of the policy appraisal process on the potential for exploiting offshore wind . The report identifies that securing terms of market access for exporting energy, most likely to either France or the UK, is a critical next step for the project. This will also help decision makers to decide whether or not to move forward with a wind farm project in Jersey’s waters.
The potential area for development of an offshore wind farm has been identified in the
Bridging Island Plan and the
Marine Spatial Plan .
2024 The States Assembly approved a plan (P.82/2023) to explore opportunities in the south west of Jersey’s territorial waters for a wind farm of up to 1 gigawatt (GW) capacity. After this, more detailed policy appraisal work was done, alongside drafting relevant legislation.
2023
A public consultation showed that Islanders supported the investigation around the potential that harnessing offshore wind could bring for the Island. It also identified concerns they had about the potential development.
2022
The Carbon Neutral Roadmap established an overall energy policy position. This included how we would examine options for utility scale renewable energy generation.
Opportunities for wind power in Jersey
Jersey is located in the Bay of St Malo, around 22 km from the French coast and 137 km south of the English coast. We are the largest of the Channel Islands and a British Crown Dependency. We are self-governing, with authority over our own airspace and territorial waters, including seabed access. We have our own financial and legal systems, including courts of law.
We are exploring the potential for a commercial-scale offshore wind development within our territorial waters. Initial feasibility studies have identified a potential development zone in the south-west of Jersey’s waters, which could support approximately 1,000 MW of power.
Export-oriented industries like shipbuilding, agriculture, in particular the Jersey Royal potato, and financial services have supported our economy. Economic development has often been driven by innovation and entrepreneurship, supported by public policy frameworks that allow businesses to respond to emerging opportunities.
Options for exporting energy
An offshore wind farm would generate more power than we could use in Jersey, allowing us to export some of the unused energy. Agreeing terms of market access for exporting energy is an important next step, and government to government discussions are continuing with France and the UK.
Bringing power to Jersey remains an option. The costs, including the impact on consumer prices, will need to be understood in addition to the terms for exporting to other markets.
Offshore wind projects generally take 7 to 11 years to complete. Development could begin in the late 2030s with operations starting around 2040.
Illustrated imagery of a wind farm in Jersey waters
As part of the policy appraisal process we have commissioned updated images of a potential wind farm in the south west of Jersey’s waters. The images include views from different locations on Jersey’s south and west coasts. They also include other actual and proposed French wind farms in the region.
All images are based on Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, which allows us to visualise data. They are created using industry standard models and are for illustrative purposes only. The exact location of turbines would be proposed by a potential developer, and any plan would follow a review and approval process.
Select the images to open in a new tab.
Video simulation of a potential offshore wind farm in Jersey Below is a video simulation of an offshore wind farm in Jersey waters on YouTube.
VIDEO
La Corbiere
Noirmont
L'Etacq
Greve d'Azette
Consultation image from La Corbiere
An earlier image was created and published as part of the 2024 consultation report .
Guidance and supporting documents Policy appraisal documents Consultation and in-principle approval documents
Technical guidance documents
gov.je