Belfast Harbour is set to invest £90 million to upgrade its port in support of upcoming wind energy projects and cruise ships, as part of a larger £300 million investment plan.
The centerpiece of this initiative is a new deepwater quay designed for wind energy projects. Additionally, the plan includes the construction of hundreds of new homes near the city center.
Previously, Belfast served as a hub for wind power installations. Between 2013 and 2018, Dong Energy, now Ørsted, used the port for wind farm projects in the Irish Sea. Following these installations, the port shifted focus to accommodate cruise ships.
Joe O’Neill, CEO of Belfast Harbour, anticipates wind turbines returning to the city by late 2027 or early 2028. He noted strong interest from wind energy developers, with Belfast Harbour Commissioners highlighting that 30 offshore wind farms, projected to generate over 30 gigawatts—sufficient to power 20 million homes—are planned within 200km of Belfast.
O’Neill acknowledged a temporary lull in wind projects but emphasized new opportunities emerging in the Irish Sea and Ireland. He identified Hull in England and Mostyn in Wales as Belfast’s main competitors in the wind energy sector.
The announced investment, funded by the port’s revenues, will primarily support fixed wind turbine projects. However, O’Neill expressed enthusiasm for floating offshore wind projects, particularly off the southwest coast of Ireland, which are expected to play a significant role in the renewable energy landscape.
Historically, Belfast’s port has been integral to the city’s growth, particularly during its shipbuilding boom from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. However, employment in shipbuilding has since declined, with Harland & Wolff, the builders of the Titanic, now reduced but slated to construct vessels for the Royal Navy under the management of Spanish firm Navantia.
Currently, the port handles 70% of Northern Ireland’s seaborne freight, though the city’s economy has shifted towards service industries.
Part of the harbour’s plan is to increase residential development near the city center, with an initial 325 homes planned on the north side of the River Lagan and a total of 3,000 homes by 2030 across the harbour estate. An additional £105 million will be allocated for regenerating and developing the harbour and waterfront.
Cruise tourism remains a significant revenue stream, generating about £25 million annually, with 158 cruise ships visiting Belfast in 2023. “We don’t want to lose what we have in cruise,” O’Neill stated.
