AQW 48339/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 10/06/2026
Answered On Date: 26/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any tangible actions that her Department has achieved, to attract investment in the offshore wind sector in Northern Ireland, in the last 12 months.

Answer:

Over the last 12 months, my Department has taken a number of tangible steps to support offshore renewable energy development and create the conditions necessary to attract investment in the north.

This includes completing the public consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and the Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment. This has enabled the Department to progress the identification of potential offshore renewable development areas, which will be a critical step in giving developers and investors greater clarity on viable locations for projects.

The Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan Steering Group continues to drive delivery, while officials work with key delivery partners to assess offshore grid connection options. This is critical policy which will enable offshore renewable energy projects to connect in the north.

In parallel, officials have prepared drafting instructions for the Offshore Renewable Energy Installations Bill, which the Department aims to introduce in the 2026/27 legislative programme, subject to formal confirmation. This Bill will establish frameworks for decommissioning, safety zones and rights of navigation within our territorial waters. It is an essential part of the overall strategic framework to enable the safe and sustainable development of offshore renewable energy projects.

Taken together, these actions represent substantive progress in establishing the policy, regulatory frameworks and environment to attract offshore wind investment.