Northern Ireland’s Department for Economy and The Crown Estate have unveiled ‘ambitions’ to power one million homes with offshore wind.
It comes as RenewableNI found consumers saved around £500m in gas import costs last year because wind farms provided almost 42% of our electricity following analysis by Baringa.
DfE and TCE published their milestone ‘statement of intent’ to establish offshore marine leasing for new NI windfarms on Monday.
Read more: Belfast only port in Ireland ready to build offshore wind turbines
RenewablesNI director Steven Agnew welcomed the commitment. He said: “The NI offshore wind sector is emerging as one of the most likely economic success stories of the decade.
“In addition to generating enough electricity to power 1.6million homes, it can generate £2.4bn GVA and create 1,500 new jobs.
“It is invigorating for the renewables industry to see DfE and TCE laying the groundwork for building offshore wind leasing and realising these benefits for the people of NI.”
But he also raised concerns about the government’s new windfall tax up to 2028 which includes an “increase in rates of 80% for wind farms and 108% for solar farms” alongside “a planning system that is not fit for purpose”.
“We need more action like [the] Statement of Intent as a sign of government and industry working together,” he added.
“When we do, a cleaner, energy secure future is the reward for NI citizens.”
DfE has committed to 1GW of offshore wind in the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy, first published in January 2022.
Its Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan (OREAP) was subsequently released and remains open to public consultation until March 16.
Initially Northern Ireland had a 70% renewable target for 2030 but this was increased to 80% in the Climate Act which Stormont passed in March.
Peter Russell, director of Electricity and Security of Supply at DfE, said: “Our ambition of delivering 1GW of offshore wind energy is Northern Ireland’s most ambitious energy infrastructure plan, with the potential to supply enough energy to power one million homes.
“The Statement of Intent is a major milestone for the Department for the Economy and The Crown Estate towards unlocking the potential of the Northern Ireland seabed and achieving the Energy Strategy vision of self-sufficiency in affordable renewable energy.”
Gus Jaspert, marine managing director at The Crown Estate, said: “We are highly committed to working in partnership to sustainably manage the seabed and the natural environment for its many users, and to unlocking its potential to support the transition to a net zero energy future.
“This statement of intent marks an important step forward, laying the groundwork for building the right conditions for offshore wind leasing and realising the potential benefits for the people of Northern Ireland – local economic investment, low-carbon electricity and a more sustainable and secure long-term energy supply.”
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