Wind Turbine Costs

Summary

A request for detailed cost assumptions, turbine specifications, and business case documents regarding the Earystane wind project was refused by the Manx Utilities Authority as vexatious. The authority cited a lack of clarification from the requester and argued that many questions sought opinions or public statements rather than recorded information.

Key Facts

• The request was classified as vexatious under Section 11(3)(c) and 11(3)(d) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The authority stated that information for questions 1 and 6 is already publicly available on their website.
• Questions 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 were deemed to seek assumptions, comparisons, or opinions rather than held information.
• The requester was advised to contact the Energy Transition team directly for a public statement or specific answers.
• The authority recommended submitting a new, focused request for the business case document (question 5).
• The request was received on 2024-06-25 and the outcome was issued on 2024-08-02.

Data Disclosed

• 2024-06-25
• 2024-08-02
• 3939933
• 3264202
• Section 11(3)(c)
• Section 11(3)(d)
• page 11
• ODM/002

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(c) - Vexatious request due to lack of acknowledgement or instruction after clarification request
• Section 11(3)(d) - Vexatious request due to being misconceived or seeking a public statement rather than information

Original Request

Which manufacturer and model Wind Turbine was used in the first studies, the Operational Decision Making (ODM)? What was the maximum capacity believed to be accommodated at Earystane in the first studies? Which cost assumptions were used in the business case published in FOI 3264202 and what were the original costs? What costs are not included in the first studies (ODM) which are now included in the later business case? Please provide the most recent business case presented to the MU Board as referenced by the chairman on 25th June 2024 in HoK. What is the maximum capacity believed to be accommodated at Earystane in the most recent business case? how many turbines and their size. Has this changed since the first studies (ODM)? What is the impact on the energy yield from any changes? What is the impact on cost per unit from any changes?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 3939933 2 August 2024

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request, received 25 June 2024, which states:

1. "Which manufacturer and model Wind Turbine was used in the first studies, the Operational Decision Making (ODM)?

2. What was the maximum capacity believed to be accommodated at Earystane in the first studies?

3. Which cost assumptions were used in the business case published in FOI 3264202 and what were the original costs?

4. What costs are not included in the first studies (ODM) which are now included in the later business case?

5. Please provide the most recent business case presented to the MU Board as referenced by the chairman on 25th June 2024 in HoK.

6. What is the maximum capacity believed to be accommodated at Earystane in the most recent business case? how many turbines and their size.

7. Has this changed since the first studies (ODM)?

8. What is the impact on the energy yield from any changes?

9. What is the impact on cost per unit from any changes?" While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, however, your response to our communication requesting clarity on some points and where we provided additional information on others, does not allow for us to continue with this request under practical refusal reasons. This is in line with Section 11(3)(c); we requested clarification, and there has been no acknowledgement, instruction or detail regarding what was asked or advised, and Section 11(3)(d); is it misconceived due to a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of the FOI Act, the purpose of the detail being sort, and as by your own admittance, this was to obtain a public statement. For these stated reasons Manx Utilities is not obliged to comply with your request.

To provide advice, and for clarity, information is already accessible for parts 1 & 6. Manx Utilities has made a lot of information publicly available on the Manx Utilities website and will be continually updated and expanded as progression is made; these pages explain the transition programme, a page solely on Onshore Wind and FAQ Onshore Wind section. To assist with information in connection to 1, this can be found on page 11 of the 'Energy Transition Roadmap' and 6 within the 'Transition Programme (ODM/002)' document, links of which we have provided for you.
Should you require a public statement to be made by Manx Utilities regarding our Energy Transition programme, FOI is not the correct process, and we recommend that for this purpose you contact the team directly at Energytransition@manxutilities.im. Therefore please contact the Energy Transition team directly for answers or information relating to 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9, as they are questions, seeking assumptions, comparisons, changes or opinions rather than information held. None of the above prevents you from placing further FOI requests, we do recommend you do this if you wish to pursue part 5 as a new request. When placing future requests please consider both the purpose of your request to promote public interest and the burden of these requests on the public authority. Also ensure each request focuses on information that is likely to be held, and limit the volume of information being sort in each request, this will also make each request easier to respond on. Please quote the reference number 3939933 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.