FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT

PRESS STATEMENT

 

9 October 2025

 

Fox Bay Renewable Energy Project Postponed

 

Following the release of the 2025/2026 Capital Budget, the Fox Bay renewables project board has made the decision to put on hold the work awarded to eLink to design and build a renewable energy solution for the Government Village at Fox Bay.

 

This was a difficult decision and reflects only on the fact that there are insufficient funds allocated to the project in order to supply a renewable energy solution to the village that meets the expectations of the project board.

 

The final bid from eLink, incorporating solar generation, diesel generator replacement, batteries and inverters, electrical distribution and lighting along with all required groundworks and associated administrative and installation costs was £790,398. This figure exceeded available funds allocated to the project with insufficient funds found to uplift the budget.

Members of the Legislative Assembly indicated in Budget Select Committee that the focus should instead be on delivering improvements to the existing distribution and generation of electricity within the village, to provide short-term energy security until funds allow the full renewable solution. As such, a new project will be stood up in due course to look to deliver that work in the Austral Summer 25/26.

 

The project board were clear in their appreciation of the excellent work provided by eLink and see this as a first step towards future renewables at Fox Bay, not a complete end to the project. As part of the original work, the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) paid for and were delivered a detailed design to supply renewables to Fox Bay. This remains an aspiration of FIG, as funds allow in the future.

 

eLink commented: “While we are disappointed that the renewable solution will not proceed at this time, we understand the financial constraints and concerns about short-term energy security. We remain hopeful that funding will be found in the future to realise a renewable solution for Fox Bay, in line with our company ethos of supporting long-term sustainability and reducing reliance on diesel”.

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ENDS