Podcast Summary: Business Daily

Episode: Wind power: A lifeline or gamble for islands?
Host: Tyler Dunn, BBC World Service
Air Date: April 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the burgeoning interest in offshore wind power among island nations and territories. The focus centers on Jersey, a small British island seeking to transform its energy and economy through large-scale offshore wind farms. Tyler Dunn and guests examine the economic hopes, environmental fears, logistical realities, and global context as more islands consider wind energy as both a lifeline for energy independence and a potential economic boon—or a risky bet with trade-offs for established local industries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Promise and Dilemma of Offshore Wind for Islands

• Islands’ Traditional Challenges
  Many islands (e.g., Jersey, Mauritius, Bermuda) lack natural energy resources and rely on imported fossil fuels, making them vulnerable to price volatility and supply disruption.

  • Khalil Allahi (01:53): “We import a lot of fossil fuel. Does make sense that we turn towards local renewables.”

• Economic Opportunity
  Jersey considers offshore wind as a means to self-sufficiency and even a new revenue stream via energy exports.

  • Steve Luce, Jersey Environment Minister (03:57): “An offshore wind farm could tick many boxes … It could produce sustainable energy … give security … make money for the island.”

• Revenue Potential

  • Steve Luce (04:49): “We could return somewhere in the region of four times every pound we spend … £100 million over that time, we would maybe get 400, 500 back.”

2. Local Concerns – The Fishing Industry's Perspective

• Fishermen's Fears of Exclusion and Survival
  Jersey’s fishing community worries the wind farm will restrict their access and shrink fishing grounds, compounding existing struggles.

  • Steven Viney, Jersey Fisherman (05:44): “There’s a lot going on with environmental impacts ... the problem with ... having a wind farm as well, it means we’re squeezed into a smaller area … there’s not enough for us to survive basically.”
  • Steven Viney (06:54): “It seems that fishermen are being pushed to the side for big business and we don’t feel that it’s right.”

• Scale and Exclusion Zones
  Wind farm construction may remove at least 10% of Jersey’s fishing area, with long project timelines and area closures.

  • Steven Viney (06:13): “We’re probably looking around 10%, probably more than that … exclusion zones around … cables on the seabed … support vessels … a massive building site at sea basically.”

3. A Global Trend, Local Differences

• Worldwide Push
  Other islands and small states are at different stages of adoption: Jersey and Channel Islands are moving ahead; Bermuda and Malta are earlier in the process; Mauritius and Sri Lanka are exploring their options.

  • Mark Laybourne, Dyna Energy (09:28): “There’s a big long list of islands … Jersey, Guernsey … Bermuda … Malta … Mauritius … Sri Lanka.”

• Why Islands?
  Offshore wind provides a massive untapped resource for energy-poor islands with large maritime zones and strong winds.

  • Mark Laybourne (10:01): “Jersey’s got an area of sea that’s 20 times larger than its island … incredible wind speeds … natural for an island to look at that.”

4. Practical & Economic Realities

• Falling, but Unsteady, Costs
  Offshore wind prices fell for a decade but rose sharply after 2023 due to global supply disruptions and inflation.

  • Mark Laybourne (11:17): “We’ve seen offshore wind prices drop dramatically, 70 or 80% in some cases … But that all changed in the last few years … price of steel … everything doubled.”
  • Despite recent setbacks in offshore wind project auctions, long-term value remains, especially compared to fossil fuel volatility.

• Industry "Growing Pains"

  • Mark Laybourne (12:38): “There’s definitely been difficulties in the industry … a lot of bad press … it’s growing pains. Every industry is cyclical. Offshore wind is still relatively new.”

• Technical Challenges: Floating Wind
  New floating turbine technologies could make wind feasible for islands with deep surrounding waters, but require port and logistics infrastructure and still face technical hurdles and added costs.

  • Deborah Greaves, Professor of Ocean Engineering, University of Plymouth (13:56): “The challenge ... is that for a floating offshore wind solution, there’s still quite a lot of innovation needed … depends on the infrastructure, the ports ... and the vessels.”

5. Logistics, Workforce, and Timelines

• Project Timelines
  Developing an offshore wind farm is a complex, multi-year process—often taking more than a decade from conception to completion.

  • Deborah Greaves (14:49): “It takes a long time ... Many steps to go through ... the consenting and permitting process ... finance raising ... design ... pulling together the supply chain … It can take ... the order of 11 years or so.”

• Unique Island Obstacles
  Smaller island states face higher costs and tougher logistics than large countries, both for importing turbine parts and building up a skilled local workforce.

  • Khalil Allahi (16:03): “We always have to add probably 10, 30, even 40% extra ... a single blade … importing that … transporting it ... capacity building.”

6. Leadership on Climate, Despite Small Emissions

• Ethics & Influence Although responsible for a negligible share of global emissions, islands like Mauritius stress the importance of cutting their own fossil fuel use—for both moral clarity and leverage in global climate advocacy.

  • Khalil Allahi (17:31): “Our contribution to global gas, greenhouse gas emissions is almost negligible. And yet we are the most vulnerable … locally ... we should be coherent. We are the victims … we can’t persist in that direction of increasing use of fossil fuels.”

• Strategic Leverage
  Moves toward renewables also strengthen islands’ arguments for major emitters to make changes.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Steve Luce (03:57): “An offshore wind farm could tick many boxes and be a win, win, win.”
• Steven Viney (06:54): “It seems that fishermen are being pushed to the side for big business and we don’t feel that it’s right.”
• Mark Laybourne (11:17): “Offshore wind prices dropped dramatically … But that all changed in the last few years … price of steel … everything doubled.”
• Deborah Greaves (13:56): “Floating offshore wind ... depends on the infrastructure, the ports ... there’s still quite a lot of innovation needed.”
• Khalil Allahi (17:31): “Our contribution to global … emissions is almost negligible. And yet we are the most vulnerable … we should be coherent.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:09] Introduction to Jersey’s wind farm ambitions
• [03:57] Jersey Environment Minister Steve Luce on economic and energy goals
• [05:44] Local fisherman Steven Viney fears for the future of fishing
• [09:07] Mark Laybourne explains global island wind interest and economics
• [13:27] Professor Deborah Greaves on technical innovations and floating turbines
• [15:42] Mauritius: Khalil Allahi on costs and challenges
• [17:31] Mauritius and island states’ climate leadership stance

Conclusion

The episode spotlights islands at an energy crossroads: offshore wind offers prospects for self-sufficiency, revenue, and leading on climate—but brings local trade-offs and daunting logistical challenges. Jersey’s story stands as a microcosm for islands globally, weighing whether the wind is a lifeline or a high-stakes gamble.