Freight News, Sea


Offshore wind firms make £100m pledge to Port of Belfast

[ November 6, 2025   //   ]

EnBW and JERA Nex bp, joint developers of the Mona and Morgan wind farms have made a commitment of over £100m to develop Belfast as a key hub for the offshore wind sector in the UK and Ireland.

Their lease of Belfast Harbour’s D1 terminal will see the assembly and marshalling of wind turbine components for two of the biggest offshore wind farms planned in the Irish Sea.

Belfast Harbour is carrying out work to ensure the site is ready for use from 2028. Approximately 300 jobs are expected to be created by the deal.

JERA Nex bp chief executive, Nathalie Oosterlinck said: “The offshore wind industry can not only power millions of homes with clean, homegrown energy but also support job creation and local economic growth. It’s a clear demonstration of how strategic investments in renewable energy can make a lasting impact on both the environment and the economy.”

Senior vice president, generation portfolio development at EnBW, Michael Class, added: “With 15 years of experience in the offshore wind sector, we are proud to collaborate with partners to bring investment, jobs, and growth to a market at the forefront of clean energy deployment. We are optimistic about fostering a long-lasting partnership between Germany, the UK, and Northern Ireland.”

Dr Theresa Donaldson said: “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. 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.”

The port said the deal has enabled it to invest £90m in construction works at its D3 terminal for a new dual-purpose cruise and offshore wind site. Stage 1 of the project, to build a new deepwater berth, is already under construction.

Stage 2 will see the terminal further reinforced to handle the next generation of offshore wind turbines, with some core components weighing more than 1,000 tonnes. This stage will also enable the provision of shore power facilities, so that vessels can run on clean energy while docked.

On 4 November, Belfast Harbour published a commissioned report by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre and Grant Thornton which stated that the port accounts for 15% of Ulster’s entire economic output.

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