This week I investigate barriers to installing renewable energy both nationally and domestically in the Isle of Man.
I also talk to a representive from a local solar panel installation business to gain some insights into the domestic and local authority installations that are taking place around the island.
STUDIO REVIEW
Figure 1: Tracks & Layers. 2022. Scouting for Toys. [motion graphics title sequence]
Tracks & Layers are interesting not because their work is revolutionary, but because they reveal the position of mainstream motion graphics in the UK today. Having clients like the BBC, their work is clean, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.
For my own development as a motion graphic designer it is crucial that I stay aware of where money is spent on motion graphics and where the boundaries are being pushed. Further still, since motion graphics have yet to take off in the Isle of Man, their are a lot of lessions to be learned from studios like Tracks & Layers in terms of what clients may be comfortable investing in and the industries in which to find those clients.
WHAT IS PREVENTING WIDER ADOPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN MANX HOMES?
ith a number of schemes in place to facilitate decarbonisation in the Isle of Man the next question to arise was what might be preventing the adoption renewable energy sources in Manx homes?
To understand the barriers that might be slowing the adoption of renewables in the Isle of Man I looked back to the global context to understand the barriers that exist in general. The Union of Concerned Scientists listed general reasons in 2017 that are still relevant today:
Capital costs
Siting and transmission
Market entry
Unequal playing field
Reliability misconceptions
WHO ARE COSTS LIMITING MOST: PRIVATE HOUSING OR SOCIAL HOUSING?
The limiting factor of cost can affect two groups in slightly different ways: homeowners may not be able to afford or justify the cost of installing renewable energy sources, whereas councils and commissioners may not be prevented from allocating a budget for the same when it comes to their social housing.
Figure 2: BBC. 2018. Tayla Turton and her daughter Kodi. [photograph]
My Interview with Dr. Marchand had suggested that single parents may be most at risk of being in fuel poverty, yet I wanted to know whether – generally speaking – it was people in social housing or private housing that may be impacted most.
A MOVEMENT TOWARDS INSTALLATION OF RENEWABLES IN MANX SOCIAL HOUSING
Figure 3: Braddan Commissioners. 2022. Braddan Community Centre with Solar PV installation. [photograph]
I was very intrigued to find that – despite it not being overwhelmingly obvious - many of the local authorities in the Isle of Man are starting to allocate funds for the installation of renewable energy sources in their housing stocks.
Due to this, a project that seeks to convince local authorities to act in this area would be somewhat wasted.
AVAILABILITY OF GRANTS TO REDUCE ENERGY USE IN PRIVATE HOUSING
It would be easy to assume that homeowners have the autonomy to install whatever renewable technology they wish (even if it means doing so on credit). However, homeowners may already need to allocate credit to other living costs, which may seriously restrict available funds for renewable energy installation.
As previously mentioned, Green Living Grant already exists that is aimed at reducing energy consumption through financial aid for things like insulation. A common misconception about this grant is that it is for renewable installation, but its focus is energy reduction rather than energy production, so very few people looking to use it for renewables have been able to do so.
Despite this, the IoM Government recently announced a review of the scheme, highlighting that they are aware of the need to cater for renewables. So, as with renewables in social housing, I decided that a project here may not have much impact or scope.
