Northern Ireland is targeting the development of offshore wind to support a beefed-up 2030 renewable electricity target.
Belfast said it is “committed” to the sector given the need to diversify its green power mix, which is currently dominated by onshore wind.
“We are seeking to ensure the correct environment is in place to attract investment opportunities in offshore and marine developments in Northern Ireland waters,” stated a new energy strategy published today.
“Our focus will be facilitating pre-commercial test and demonstration sites in the 2020s which will put us on a clear pathway to commercialisation by the early 2030s or sooner if possible.”
Offshore wind will contribute to meeting the new 70% renewables target, which is up from 45% today.
Northern Ireland currently has no operational offshore wind.
The plan also calls for doubling the size of the country’s low carbon and renewable energy economy to a turnover of more than £2bn by 2030.
Economy Minister Gordon Lyons (pictured) said: “By setting and achieving these targets, we are putting ourselves on a path to transform how we develop and consume energy. Decarbonising energy means achieving so much more than carbon reductions.
“We are already world leaders in integrating renewable electricity generation and we can also become world leaders in the new hydrogen economy. We will play to our strengths. Our world-leading engineering sector will be at the centre of this.”
Steven Agnew, Head of RenewableNI, added: “RenewableNI fully supports this strategy’s ambition to deliver wholly decarbonised electricity as a core enabler of a net zero carbon and affordable energy system.”