Information on the Lease between Orsted and Isle of Man Government

Summary

A request was made for documents regarding the 2015 seabed lease between the Isle of Man Government and DONG Energy (now Ørsted) for the Mooir Vannin offshore wind project, including financial terms and amendments. The Cabinet Office responded that the requested information is not held.

Key Facts

• The request concerns the 2015 agreement between the Isle of Man Government and DONG Energy (now Ørsted).
• The project involves a seabed lease for offshore wind farm development in Isle of Man territorial waters.
• The lease was originally for exploration but transitioned to the commercial 'Mooir Vannin' project.
• The Cabinet Office stated that the specific documents requested are not held.
• The response was issued on 17 March 2026 regarding a request received on 3 March 2026.

Data Disclosed

• 2015
• November 30, 2030
• 700MW
• 1.4GW
• 3 March 2026
• 17 March 2026
• 5342377

Original Request

I am writing to formally request information and documentation regarding the agreement originally reached in 2015 between the Isle of Man Government and DONG Energy (now known as Ørsted) concerning the lease of the seabed for offshore wind farm development within the Isle of Man's territorial waters and subsequent documents showing alterations to said lease to go from a exploratory lease only, to a much larger,named project, Mooir Vannin. I request: Documents showing the original terms, area of and duration of lease: Original Financial Structure; i.e.Information regarding the rental or royalty structure agreed upon at the time of the signing of this lease. Subsequent documents outlining amendments that have been made to this specific 2015 agreement and documents showing amendments following the rebranding of DONG Energy to Ørsted. I request information of any variations, side letters, and/ or formal amendments made to the 2015 Agreement for Lease since its original signing. Documents pertaining to the decision-making process and any updated terms on the extension of Ørsted's exclusive rights to November 30, 2030. Information on any changes to the rental or royalty payments the Isle of Man Treasury is entitled to receive, (as referenced in recent ministerial statements). Any documents relating to the project milestones or deadlines originally set in 2015 that have been adjusted to accommodate current development timelines and the up-scaling of the lease and project (i.e. to the Mooir Vannin project.) Documentation showing evidence of the change in agreement from the 2015 "export-only" to current discussions involving potential power-to-island links. I am also requesting information regarding the transition of the 2015 Agreement from an exploration-focused license to a commercial development project; so, documentation confirming when the 2015 Agreement for Lease (originally granted for "preliminary investigations," surveys, feasibility studies & exploration), was officially changed to apply for a full scale construction (i.e. the Mooir Vannin project) Who signed the documents to change the terms of the agreement? Was a separate competitive tender required (or bypassed) when the project transitioned from an exploration phase to the current commercial development proposal being examined? Finally, I am requesting documentation that outline when the significant increase in the proposed capacity (700MW to the current proposed project of 1.4GW) ,size of turbines and general increase in the scale of the development was agreed and by whom. I would like information on whether the Isle of Man Government conducted a specific risk or "best value" reassessment when the lease changed from exploration and survey only ,to become 'Mooir Vannin. I therefore request documents showing when the original 2015 lease between Dong (now Orsted) and the Isle of Man was upgraded from an exploration only framework to a Nationally Significant scale project.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

1

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244
Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 5342377 17 March 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 3 March 2026, which states:

"I am writing to formally request information and documentation regarding the agreement originally reached in 2015 between the Isle of Man Government and DONG Energy (now known as Ørsted) concerning the lease of the seabed for offshore wind farm development within the Isle of Man's territorial waters and subsequent documents showing alterations to said lease to go from a exploratory lease only, to a much larger,named project, Mooir Vannin.
I request:
Documents showing the original terms, area of and duration of lease:
Original Financial Structure; i.e.Information regarding the rental or royalty structure agreed upon at the time of the signing of this lease.
Subsequent documents outlining amendments that have been made to this specific 2015 agreement and documents showing amendments following the rebranding of DONG Energy to Ørsted.
I request information of any variations, side letters, and/ or formal amendments made to the 2015 Agreement for Lease since its original signing.
Documents pertaining to the decision-making process and any updated terms on the extension of Ørsted's exclusive rights to November 30, 2030. Information on any changes to the rental or royalty payments the Isle of Man Treasury is entitled to receive, (as referenced in recent ministerial statements).
Any documents relating to the project milestones or deadlines originally set in 2015 that have been adjusted to accommodate current development timelines and the up-scaling of the lease and project (i.e. to the Mooir Vannin project.)
Documentation showing evidence of the change in agreement from the 2015 "export-only" to current discussions involving potential power-to- island links.
I am also requesting information regarding the transition of the 2015 Agreement from an exploration-focused license to a commercial development project; so, documentation confirming when the 2015 Agreement for Lease (originally granted for "preliminary investigations," surveys, feasibility studies & exploration), was officially changed to apply for a full scale construction (i.e. the Mooir Vannin project) Who signed the 2 documents to change the terms of the agreement? Was a separate competitive tender required (or bypassed) when the project transitioned from an exploration phase to the current commercial development proposal being examined?
Finally, I am requesting documentation that outline when the significant increase in the proposed capacity (700MW to the current proposed project of 1.4GW) ,size of turbines and general increase in the scale of the development was agreed and by whom.
I would like information on whether the Isle of Man Government conducted a specific risk or "best value" reassessment when the lease changed from exploration and survey only ,to become 'Mooir Vannin. I therefore request documents showing when the original 2015 lease between Dong (now Orsted) and the Isle of Man was upgraded from an exploration only framework to a Nationally Significant scale project."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. The Cabinet Office is not a party to the Agreement for Lease with Orsted. The Agreement for Lease is between the Department of Infrastructure and Orsted.

You may wish to contact Department of Infrastructure who may be able to help you: Department of Infrastructure, Sea Terminal, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2RF or submit a freedom of information request to Department of Infrastructure directly: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/make-a-freedom- of-information-request/.

Please quote the reference number 5342377 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 3 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.

Yours sincerely