Wednesday 25 September | 12.00pm-3.00pm
RenewableNI highlighted the exciting potential of the offshore wind industry in powering the clean revolution. They brought together both the major players across project development and the supply chain with key political and policy decision-makers.
As RenewableNI’s The Clean Revolution report showed, offshore wind offers major benefits for Northern Ireland, with the potential to power 1.6 million homes, create over 1,500 highly-skilled green jobs and open up global export opportunities. As we transition to net zero, increasing offshore deployment will be essential to meet the 80% RES-E by 2030 target set by the Northern Ireland Climate Change Act.
Northern Ireland is ideally suited to offshore wind development. With some of the most favourable wind conditions in Europe, the UK’s largest single port estate and indigenous businesses which boast a strong culture of innovation, collaboration and excellent engineering capability, the region is the perfect cluster for scaling up a thriving offshore wind industry.
This event was an opportunity for the key offshore wind industry actors and elected representatives and policy-makers to explore how to maximise the significant economic and environmental benefits offered, and how we can collaborate to the unlock major investment needed to support the development of a domestic supply chain and fully exploit our homegrown wind resource to power the clean revolution.
Offshore speakers
Will Apps
Offshore Wind Strategy Director, The Crown Estate
Will is responsible for the offshore wind strategy of The Crown Estate, the business that is responsible for the seabed rights of England, Wales & Northern Ireland, alongside supporting nature and the rich biodiversity of our seas and helping to rejuvenate local economies and communities.
With 20 years experience in the sector, Will has directly contributed to the strategic evolution of the UK market, working alongside governments, stakeholders and the industry. Will oversees The Crown Estate’s enabling and derisking activities focussed on securing the sustainable and coordinated growth of the pipeline and the industry. Will is a Chartered Civil Engineer.
Zoe Crowe,
Head of Renewable Electricity,
Department for the Economy (DfE)
Securing sufficient renewable electricity generation is essential to deliver on net zero targets and ensure self-sufficiency and affordable electricity for Northern Ireland. The NI Executive’s Energy Strategy outlines the pathway to deliver net zero for Northern Ireland, Zoe and her team are responsible for developing the policy frameworks to facilitate the increase in renewable electricity necessary to meet anticipated demand and to maximise the potential for economic growth.
Zoe has over 20 years experience in public service, including roles in policy development, operational delivery, learning and development, change management and communications. She is CIPD qualified and holds a PgCert in Public Administration. Zoe has been working in Renewable Electricity since 2019.
Sam McCloskey BSc, MSc, CEnv, FEI,
Country Director, Simply Blue Group
Niamh Kenny, Chair of RenewableNI Offshore working group
Project Director, North Channel Wind
Eimear Lenehan
Head of Offshore Wind Ireland, SSE Renewables
Brian Hegarty,
Offshore Wind Stakeholder Manager, ESB
Offshore panel discussion
The panel discussion was wide-ranging, framed by the increasingly important role offshore wind will play in Northern Ireland from 2030, driving the energy transition and delivering net zero. A thriving offshore wind industry would mean lower electricity bills for consumers, greater energy security and high-quality green jobs and the panellists discussed the scale of this opportunity.
Offshore Wind Stakeholder Manager at ESB, Brian Hegarty, highlighted how Northern Ireland was ideally suited to offshore wind development with an abundant natural resource, dedicated infrastructure and a strong culture of innovation and engineering capability. ESB wanted to invest in the region and create employment and green growth opportunities for local people so NI’s skilled workers didn’t need to head elsewhere. Brian pointed to our proximity with the GB market, one of the world’s most mature offshore industries and stressed how much we can learn from them.
Eimear Lenehan, Head of Offshore Consent Ireland at SSE was enthusiastic about how significant the opportunities for NI’s future offshore wind industry and supply chain market were, summing up that “onshore is local, offshore is global”. Eimear drew attention to the importance of engaging meaningfully with the fishing industry, a key partner in the busy marine space who had critical expertise that offshore wind developers should be learning from. She noted that there were increasing challenges in the consenting process (this could be seen in GB) but this was a sign that the industry was maturing and moving in the right direction. Offshore wind offered a chance to revitalise coastal and rural communities, and a just transition was key.
Niamh Kenny, Project Director at North Channel Wind called on the MLAs and policymakers attending the event to bring a renewed focus to the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan (OREAP) and reenergise the critical path timeline for delivery of the 1GW from 2030 target. Niamh noted the positive policy steer in GB and the success of offshore wind in this month’s CfD auction. She focused on the NI’s industry’s key asks: a timely deadline for a leasing round, commitment to a timeline for an offshore wind CfD auction and award process, a clear timebound consenting process and a more ambitious target of 1GW by 2032.
Sam McCloskey, Country Director for NI at Simply Blue Group talked about the significant amount of collaboration, work and investment already undertaken by offshore developers in Northern Ireland, some of whom have been here since 2013. Sam sits on the board of the Northern Ireland Maritime and Offshore Network (NIMO) and spoke about some of the global successes that key members such as CASC and Ridgeway have recently secured. Sam wanted to see more of those opportunities created domestically with local content in the future offshore supply chain and market maximised. She welcomed the establishment of GB Energy, its partnership with the Crown Estate, and news that its investment would extend to NI. She hoped it would prove to be an effective ally that would work closely with developers to accelerate offshore wind development in NI.
The panel discussion demonstrated the innovation and strong ambition of developers, making clear that if timeline uncertainty for leasing and route to market were resolved, that industry stood ready to invest and fully maximise the benefits that a domestic offshore wind industry and supply chain would deliver for Northern Ireland’s environment, economy and wider society.
