Why offshore wind
Offshore wind has a vital role to play in our clean energy future. In Northern Ireland we have one of the best wind resources in Europe. This vast, natural resource provides a fantastic opportunity to tackle the climate emergency and improve our energy security by using clean, local resources, rather than relying on fossil fuels from overseas. And in doing so, building a new industry, bringing jobs and investment to our economy.
Wind energy is one of Northern Ireland’s main tools in the fight against climate change. It cuts our carbon emissions by millions of tonnes every year and currently provides almost half of the country’s electricity. However, we need to do more.
All Northern Ireland’s existing wind farms are onshore. By locating offshore, the wind turbines can benefit from more consistent wind speeds and the turbines can be larger, with higher towers and longer blades that are not feasible to build onshore. This means a single offshore wind turbine can generate as much as three or four modern onshore turbines.
Security of Supply
Generating our electricity locally from offshore wind will reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuel-based energy and significantly improve energy security.
Climate change
We estimate North Channel Wind could potentially save over 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year compared to the equivalent generation by non-renewables.
Biodiversity
We aim to develop an equitable marine ‘net gain’ system, enabling both strategic and site-based programmes to enhance marine biodiversity.
Renewable electricity generation
We estimate that North Channel Wind has the potential to generate over 4.3 gigawatt hours of electricity each year. That would have been equivalent to around 58% of Northern Ireland’s total electricity consumption in 2022.
Investment
North Channel Wind would be Northern Ireland’s largest renewable electricity generator, bringing substantial investment to the local economy, supporting the development of a local supply chain and job creation.
Community
We are committed to citizen engagement and will work closely with local communities throughout the development to maximise the benefit to the local area. There are various mechanisms and schemes to support communities in different jurisdictions. We plan to investigate best practice internationally, and through meaningful dialogue with communities and stakeholders develop a bespoke process which will support local communities and other marine stakeholders.
