Plans are gathering pace to transform Belfast Harbour into a leading hub for the offshore wind industry, following a landmark commitment of more than GB£100 million from the developers of the Mona and Morgan windfarms.
Under the agreement with EnBW and JERA Nex bp, Belfast Harbour’s D1 terminal will be redeveloped into a state-of-the-art facility for wind turbine handling, assembly, and marshalling.
“Belfast is the only port on the island of Ireland with offshore wind capabilities and we are delighted to work with the Mona and Morgan projects, whose commitment will position the port and local supply chain as central to the deployment of high-capacity windfarms,” said Dr Theresa Donaldson, chair of Belfast Harbour.
“As offshore wind technology evolves, ports will play an increasingly central role and Belfast Harbour is uniquely placed thanks to the combination of our existing facility, our expertise, local supply chain and location to be a key enabler of the power stations of the future in the Irish, Celtic and North Seas.”
Port development
The investment will position the port as a critical base for some of the largest offshore wind projects planned in the Irish Sea, enhancing its reputation as a powerhouse for innovation and sustainable marine civils development.
Back in January, Belfast Harbour announced its milestone project to transform the port’s infrastructure for both cruise and offshore wind support.
To support the expansion, extensive marine civils works are underway to prepare the site for operations from 2028, with around 300 jobs expected to be created.
The investment also enables Belfast Harbour to continue developing its D3 terminal, including facilities to handle next-generation wind turbines and provide shore power for vessels.
Together, Mona and Morgan hope to generate up to 3GW of clean electricity - enough to power around three million UK homes, which marks a major advance in the nation’s renewable energy ambitions.
