Secretary of State Hilary Benn has visited Belfast Harbour to view the site that will become the assembly hub for two of the UK's largest planned offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea, marking a £100 million landmark deal.

The deal follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's announcement at COP 30 and involves joint venture partners JERA Nex bp and EnBW agreeing to lease Belfast Harbour's offshore wind terminal. This facility will be used for the assembly and construction of the planned Mona and Morgan wind farms, which, once operational, could power the equivalent of around 3 million UK homes every year.

-- Advertisement --

The construction phase is expected to create over 300 jobs and drive significant regional economic growth, supporting the local supply chain. The commitment has already enabled Belfast Harbour to invest £90 million in a new deepwater berth that will support future offshore wind projects and cruise tourism.

Following his visit and a boat tour of the site, the Secretary of State stated: "This commitment of over £100 million to Belfast Harbour is fantastic news for Northern Ireland and the wider UK, generating jobs and economic growth while supporting the development of affordable clean energy... it's clear that this deal will secure Northern Ireland's key role in the UK's clean energy future."

Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, highlighted the port's unique position: "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... Belfast Harbour is uniquely placed... to be a key enabler of the power stations of the future in the Irish, Celtic and North Seas."

The facilities at the harbour are expected to be ready for use from 2028.