A £100m deal to support the construction of two major Irish Sea offshore wind farms will create about 300 jobs in Belfast, in what officials are calling a landmark investment for Northern Ireland’s renewable energy future.
The agreement will see the developers of the Mona and Morgan wind farms lease Belfast Harbour’s D1 terminal to assemble and prepare components for giant wind turbines. Work to ready the site is already under way, with operations expected to begin in 2028.
Joe O’Neill, chief executive of Belfast Harbour, described the agreement as “a huge deal” not only for the port but also for Belfast and the surrounding region.
“It’s global players coming to Belfast,” O’Neill said. “We’re providing the facilities, but the wider region gets the economic benefit — from job creation to clean energy powering up to three million homes.”
‘A major milestone for clean energy’
Belfast Harbour is currently the only port on the island of Ireland equipped to handle large-scale offshore wind projects. The Mona and Morgan farms will be among the largest in the Irish Sea, with one site located between Morecambe and the Isle of Man, and the other off the north Wales coast.
Once operational, they will generate up to 3 gigawatts (GW) of electricity — enough to power around three million UK homes. The new roles created will include logistics, assembly, and the handling of massive turbine components, some weighing over 1,000 tonnes.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the deal as evidence of the UK’s “clean power revolution”, adding that it would “create skilled, well-paid jobs” and strengthen the government’s net zero commitments ahead of next week’s Cop30 global summit.
Energy firms hail ‘collaboration for transition’
The project is being developed by EnBW, a German energy company, and JERA Nex bp, a London-based offshore wind joint venture.
Nathalie Oosterlinck, JERA Nex bp’s chief executive, said the partnership was a “direct contribution to the infrastructure needed to drive the energy transition”.
“The offshore wind industry can not only power millions of homes with clean, homegrown energy but also support job creation and local economic growth,” she said.
Michael Class, senior vice president at EnBW, called the deal a “milestone commitment” that would strengthen energy cooperation between Germany, the UK, and Northern Ireland.
Investing in Belfast’s future
The harbour, which reinvests all profits back into its operations, said the deal would help fund a £90m dual-purpose cruise and offshore wind site. The new terminal will feature a deep-water berth capable of accommodating the world’s largest cruise vessels, set for completion in 2027.
O’Neill said the investment would serve a dual purpose — boosting clean energy generation while expanding Belfast’s cruise industry.
“Ports play a fundamental role in the clean energy transition,” he added. “There’s very limited port capacity across the UK and Ireland, and we’re proud Belfast is ready to lead the way.”
Analysis: Jobs boost, but not a direct investment in NI renewables
While the deal cements Belfast’s growing reputation in offshore engineering and logistics, BBC News NI’s environment correspondent Louise Cullen notes it’s not an investment in renewable power generation for Northern Ireland itself.
Instead, it reinforces the city’s role as a key hub in the global offshore wind supply chain, positioning Belfast to benefit from the wider shift to green energy across the UK and Europe.
