Belfast Harbour sets out €350m+ five-year plan

The ‘bold new strategy’ is intended to position the port ‘at the forefront of the clean energy transition as a key player in the development of offshore wind energy port capacity in the UK & Ireland’, a statement said.

Under a strategy called Advance Regional Prosperity 2025-2029, £208 million is earmarked for port developments and improvements and £105 million in an ongoing regeneration programme on the harbour estate and waterfront, which includes £90 million for a new deep-water quay.

This will enable the site to cater for the huge vessels needed for offshore wind as well as accommodate the world’s largest cruise liners.

Port capacity will be expanded to allow wind turbine assembly and installation to take place there as well.

Belfast Harbour already has offshore wind installation and servicing capability, and between 2013 and 2018 provided support for two thirds of offshore wind projects developed in UK waters, it says.

Once the works have been completed by 2027/28, the new deep-water berth will be able to have floating turbines serviced there as well, the harbour statement said.

“Under the plans, the offshore wind logistics facility at Belfast Harbour’s D1 terminal will again become a full-time offshore wind facility. Cruise ships, which currently dock at the terminal six months of the year, will now be relocated to the new deep-water berth at Belfast Harbour’s D3 terminal, which will be used as a dual-purpose site from 2030,” it says.

“While stage two of the project is dependent on additional investment or third-party funding, Belfast Harbour is confident that when complete, it will position the port and local supply chain as central to the deployment of high-capacity wind farms.”

“Belfast Harbour is uniquely placed to support the offshore wind industry, with 30 offshore wind farms planned within a 200km range of Belfast with a projected capacity of more than 30 GW, enough to power 20 million homes.”

“Our £90m investment in a new deep-water quay and facilities will support the deployment of the next generation of floating offshore wind farms and allow us to meet the growing needs of offshore renewable energy developers,” said Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour.

“Our expertise and infrastructure, alongside NI’s existing clean energy and advanced manufacturing ecosystem, will support the development of a strong local supply chain that we believe will be viewed favourably when developers are making future investment decisions and considering construction and deployment options for their projects.”