UK - Belfast Harbour, Dong Energy sign letter of intent for marine park

Belfast Harbour is Belfast’s port authority and operates the principal maritime gateway on the island of Ireland. The harbour estate covers an area of 2,000 acres representing 20% of Belfast City area.

The project would create up to 300 full time jobs and 150 construction posts. Dong Energy has signed a letter of intent in support of the project. If a final agreement is signed, Danish company Dong Energy will use the facility to pre-assemble turbines and foundations.

Len O’Hagan, Belfast Harbour’s Chairman said that in addition to turbine assembly operations, there may also be opportunities to attract turbine manufacturers to Northern Ireland, helping to lay the basis of a Marine Energy Park that would create significant numbers of new high-value-add jobs and inward investment.

Belfast Harbour highlighted that over the next 20 years it’s expected that 11,000 new offshore wind turbines will be built in UK and Irish territorial waters at a cost of c. £100bn. With almost a quarter of the planned turbines located within 150 nautical miles of Belfast, it is being underlined that the Harbour area is well placed to become a major centre in the rapidly expanding offshore wind sector.

The Crown Estate, which manages licences for UK offshore wind farms, has awarded Dong Energy (as part of its Round 2 and 2.5 Licence Rounds), the licence to construct the West of Duddon Sands Offshore Wind Farm together with Scottish Power Renewables, and to further extend the capacity of the Burbo Bank (up to 234 MW) and Walney (up to 750 MW) offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea.

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