Cair Vie Resistance & ExoTechnologies

Summary

The request sought information regarding an offer from ExoTechnologies to provide 'DANU' recyclable composite material for Isle of Man wind turbines. The authority disclosed correspondence showing the offer was made in March 2023 but redirected to formal procurement processes, with some information withheld.

Key Facts

• ExoTechnologies offered 'DANU', a recyclable composite material, to the Isle of Man Government for wind turbine blades.
• The offer was made via email on 03 March 2023 to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA).
• Manx Utilities Authority (MUA) is responsible for the practical aspects of wind farm development.
• The government response indicated that all projects must go through formal procurement processes.
• ExoTechnologies claimed the technology requires no new production tooling or workforce re-education.

Data Disclosed

• 03 March 2023
• 08:26
• 11:48
• +44 7624 234398
• 33 pages
• 2 documents

Original Request

An article published on the 'Cair Vie Resistance' website highlights the development of a 'completely recyclable' composite material, 'DANU', marketed through ExoTechnologies a company with an on Island presence (https://cairvie.im). It is suggested that 'DANU offers a completely recyclable alternative that would also mitigate, or prevent entirely, [wind turbine blade] leading edge erosion.' Furthermore according to the article this technology has been offered 'free for the Isle of Man Government to use, to develop a more truly green form of wind turbine that is world leading'. I seek any information held relating to DANU and ExoTechnologies and any such offer made. This includes but is not limited to correspondence between MUA and ExoTechnologies their officers or agents, emails relating to the same between different stakeholders and extracts from meeting minutes where such technology and alleged offer was discussed.

Data Tables (5)

Full Response Text

3 Jeroen

Jeroen Wats Founder & Chief Innovation Officer

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jeroen.wats@exo-tech.com +44 7624 234398 exo-tech.com

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Op 03/03/2023 om 11:48 schreef Forden, Steve: Hi Jeroen,

Thanks for getting in touch. While Defa has responsibility for policy overall, Manx Utilities are dealing with the practical aspects of our wind farm development and so I have cc’d my colleague Lizzie as she is likely to be a more relevant person to speak to.

MU are at the initial stages in terms of project scoping, however, so I suspect there is a limited amount that Lizzie is able to say at this stage. Plus everything will be done via formal procurement processes.

Thanks

Steve

Steve Forden Head of Energy Policy

Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel: 07624 | steve.forden@gov.im

Working Together for a Sustainable Future
Gobbragh Cooidjagh Son Traa Ry-Heet Shassooagh

Web: https://www.biosphere.im
Facebook: UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man
4 Twitter: BiosphereIoM Instagram: BiosphereIoM

From: Jeroen Wats jeroen.wats@exo-tech.com
Sent: 03 March 2023 08:26 To: Milne, Ken (DEFA) Ken.Milne@gov.im; Forden, Steve Steve.Forden@gov.im Cc: (DEFA) @gov.im> Subject: Circular and sustainable wind solutions

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Good morning Mr. Milne and Mr. Forden, I hope this email finds you well. I would like to follow up on the introduction made by . From that perspective I would like to see if we can open a dialogue making the wind turbines truly green. Our DANU composite is repeatedly recyclable, following the circular economy, and made from sustainable fibers and styrene free resins. DANU is the answer to the global growing problems of fiber glass.
Attached you find mechanical properties of DANU versus glass fiber. As well LCA data of the fibers used.
The technology is ready. We don't need any governmental support, yet it would be for the Isle of Man and ExoTechnologies a golden opportunity to launch the first glass fiber free and true circular wind farm in the world. Where a small island can be a giant. Where superior, true clean, circular and weight reduced technology can be showcased to the world. There is no need for different production tooling, no need to re-educate a work force. Every GRP producer or wind turbine manufacturer can switch overnight without any investments or training. And from a cost price point of view we do expect a same costing outcome for a DANU blade than a GRP blade. I much look forward to your thoughts and reply, With my kindest regards, Jeroen Wats --

Jeroen Wats Founder & Chief Innovation Officer 5

jeroen.wats@exo-tech.com +44 7624 234398 exo-tech.com

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Isle of Man. Giving you freedom to flourish

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No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of any of the Departments or Statutory Boards of the Isle of Man Government with any party by e-mail without express written confirmation by a Manager of the relevant Department or Statutory Board.

RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll-shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu.

Cha nel kied currit da failleydagh ny jantagh erbee conaant y yannoo rish peiagh ny possan erbee lesh post-l er son Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh erbee jeh Reiltys Ellan Vannin dyn co-niartaghey scruit leayr veih Reireyder y Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh t’eh bentyn rish. 1 From: Jeroen Wats jeroen.wats@exo-tech.com Sent: 28 March 2023 14:52 To: Riley, Lizzie (MUA) Cc: ; Dobbins, Adrian; Subject: Re: Summation call 13/03/2023 Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.   Dear Lizzie, Thank you very much for your helpful reply. I hope you have enjoyed a good and relaxing leave. I will keep working on a final solution and keep you updated throughout the process. If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me at any time. With my kind regards, Jeroen

Jeroen Wats Founder & Chief Innovation Officer

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jeroen.wats@exo-tech.com +44 7624 234398 exo-tech.com

The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient specified in message only. It is strictly forbidden to share any part of this message with any third party, without a written consent of the sender. If you received this message by mistake, please reply to this message and follow with its deletion, so that we can ensure such a mistake does not occur in the future.

Op 27/03/2023 om 12:41 schreef Riley, Lizzie (MUA): Dear Jeroen,

Good to hear from you. Apologies for the delay in responding I’ve been on leave and currently catching up on correspondence.

Answer to your questions as follows: 1. As with all of Manx Utilities large Capital projects, we would usually tender for a complete Design & Build package, followed by a tender for the specific equipment based on the design, rather than breaking the design/installation down into individual components. We haven’t made any decisions at this point. 2. Based on the timescales for the survey work end 2025 is likely the earliest we would be able to put in an order depending on how we progress with planning. 2026 is perhaps more realistic but until we have more detail I wouldn’t be able to confirm. 4 This project shows that the forces on the vessel can easily be handled by DANU without reinforcement of eg. stainless steel or carbon fiber. Furthermore DANU has recently passed the FIM (Federation of International Motorsport) helmet test, meeting ECE 2205 (linear test) and DOT (penetration test) specification, life raft drop test exceeding SOLAS standards. We are currently in successful R&D alliances with Dainese motor cycle helmets, Assa Abloy on protective entrance systems, Alstom (high speed) train parts, Survitec life rafts and a leading OEM wind turbine blade manufacturer. For the IOM wind farm project, the demand will be between 6 and 12 blades. Production preferably as close to the island as possible to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping. I will check the possibility to produce blades in eg. Scotland.
DANU has as benefit that any fiber glass producer can swap overnight to DANU without any extra investment in production tooling or staff education. Being considerably stronger than fiber glass, considerably less materials are needed to meet the required mechanical properties. As well the spars and web bondings in the blade can be "chemically welded", meaning two elements turn into one solid part giving much more strength than bonding.

ExoTechnologies has a patent on the recipe, not the ingredients. The materials are "off the shelve" products. And we are offering the technology for free for this IOM project. We can work close with your wind supplier, providing all the needed laboratory reports we have present and work out a laminate schedule tailored to your requirements. The reports are executed by a Lloyd's register and DNV accredited laboratory.
As earlier mentioned a collaboration would be the golden opportunity for the Isle of Man, presenting superior Manx innovation and being worlds first, fiber glass free with a total green, sustainable, recyclable and even circular wind farm where both resins and fibers will stay in the economy and out of landfill. I much look forward taking a next step in these developments. When you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at any time. With my kind regards, Jeroen

5 Jeroen Wats Founder & Chief Innovation Officer

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jeroen.wats@exo-tech.com +44 7624 234398 exo-tech.com

The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient specified in message only. It is strictly forbidden to share any part of this message with any third party, without a written consent of t sender. If you received this message by mistake, please reply to this message and follow with its dele so that we can ensure such a mistake does not occur in the future.

Isle of Man. Giving you freedom to flourish

WARNING: This email message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. You must not copy or deliver it to any other person or use the contents in any unauthorised manner without the express permission of the sender. If you are not the intended addressee of this e-mail, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible.

No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of any of the Departments or Statutory Boards of the Isle of Man Government with any party by e-mail without express written confirmation by a Manager of the relevant Department or Statutory Board.

RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll-shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu.

Cha nel kied currit da failleydagh ny jantagh erbee conaant y yannoo rish peiagh ny possan erbee lesh post-l er son Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh erbee jeh Reiltys Ellan Vannin dyn co-niartaghey scruit leayr veih Reireyder y Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh t’eh bentyn rish. 1 From: Riley, Lizzie (MUA) Sent: 25 April 2024 16:32 To: Wannenburgh, John (MHK); Dobbins, Adrian Subject: RE: Exo-tech contact Thanks John,

I actually spoke with Mr Watts last year before we announced sites after he asked for a meeting – he has developed an alternative material to fibre-glass for manufacturing boats and motorcycle helmets and wants us to use the material to manufacture wind-turbines. It has not been used to manufacture wind turbines previously so he’s really wanting a test case.

I have already told him that he is welcome to bid on our upcoming manufacturing contract as and when we progress if his design and his company meets all of the necessary requirements for the site and our terms of contract.

We probably would not be able to speak to him in advance of the upcoming procurement exercise to maintain a fair and competitive process. If he needs a response we could re-iterate that we would welcome his bid when we progress to tender.

Best Wishes, Lizzie

From: Wannenburgh, John (MHK) John.Wannenburgh@gov.im   Sent: 25 April 2024 12:08  To: Dobbins, Adrian Adrian.Dobbins@manxutilities.im; Riley, Lizzie (MUA) Lizzie.Riley@manxutilities.im  Subject: FW: Exo‐tech contact 

Hi     I said I’d pass on this info so please see below – I have no idea if it is relevant or not?    All the best  John      Best Wishes    John Wannenburgh MHK  MHK for Douglas North  Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PW  Tel: 01624 686172 / 07624 495749    From:  @manx‐nfu.org   Sent: 25 April 2024 10:09  To: Wannenburgh, John (MHK) John.Wannenburgh@gov.im  Subject: Exo‐tech contact 

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.   2 Hi John

I hope all is well, this is not a farming matter specifically but the contact in a round about way has come though this! I wondered could I put you in touch with Jeroen Watts of Eco-Tech regarding some pioneering materials for turbines? As I say it’s a bit left field I just though you might find it interesting. Jeroen is happy for me to share his contact - Jeroen.wats@exo-tech.com 07624 234398 Website www.exo-tech.com

Entirely your call of course, I will leave it with you.

Best wishes

General Secretary Manx National Farmers' Union First Floor Quay House South Quay Douglas IM1 5AR Tel: +44 (0) 1624 662204 Mob: +44 (0) 7624

www.manx-nfu.org Facebook; Manx Farming and Food Matters

WARNING: This email message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. You must not copy or deliver it to any other person or use the contents in any unauthorised manner without the express permission of the sender. If you are not the intended addressee of this e-mail, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible.

RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll- shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu.

1 From: Sent: 01 May 2024 17:03 To: Dobbins, Adrian; King, Philip Subject: RE: Manx Radio: Request for comment/interview Thanks Ade Phil also happy.

MCIPR Executive Assistant & PR Manager  Chief Executive’s Office         SUSTAINABLY DELIVERING  LIFE’S ESSENTIAL SERVICES  FOR OUR ISLAND   

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