Invest NI has held a special event to provide expert advice to Ulster engineering firms interested in intercepting the growing offshore wind energy sector across the UK.

Invest NI has suggested the wind energy market will be worth around £40 billion within the next 20 years.

The UK is rapidly becoming a world leader in offshore wind energy supply capability, with projects under construction around its shores accounting for almost half of global capacity.

Yesterday over 80 delegates from firms across Northern Ireland learned how to get a slice of this business.

Delegates heard the best approach in accessing innovation and R&D support from Invest NI, to help them increase their capability and improve their chances of securing business in the industry.

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Expert speakers also addressed those attending the event. These included wind farm developers and renewable energy policy advisers, who delivered presentations and provided interactive workshops.

Invest NI’s Managing Director of Innovation and Capability Development, Tracy Meharg, speaking at yesterday's event, said: "With government targets requiring 10 per cent of all electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2010, the need for wind energy, and other alternative sources, is growing rapidly."

"The current supply network cannot accommodate the speed at which wind farms are being developed and this is presenting significant commercial opportunities for local engineering companies to fill the gap."

"Although there is a wealth of engineering expertise here, there are also many companies in the sector which could profit significantly from increasing their capability through a greater commitment to ongoing innovation and R&D."

"This could enable them to bid for contracts in wind energy supply which might currently be out of their reach. Invest NI can help companies achieve this by assisting them to identify improvements to products and processes and build on their current strengths."

Ms Meharg added: "Only by maximising their innovation and R&D activities will companies in the sector here truly fulfil their potential – and doing so will not only put them in a strong, internationally competitive position going forward, it will also help to generate significant wealth for Northern Ireland as a whole."

(PR)