Northern Ireland’s coastline is not suitable for fixed bottom offshore wind farm development because of the visual impact of such projects.
A report by the Department for Economy made the conclusion based on extensive characterisation modelling.
The east coast from Carlingford Lough to Belfast Lough was considered for potential leasing and was rejected.
The areas have been excluded from The Crown Estate leasing round proposals.
According to the government department’s report, the modelling found that there were significant challenges which, even with mitigation, mean that the conditions are “not yet right for fixed foundation offshore wind development” around Northern Ireland’s coastline.
As defined by The Crown Estate, the primary criteria used to assess suitability found that 99% of the characterisation area is within 13km of the coast and is, therefore, “constrained by risk and uncertainty associated with visual sensitivity from shore.”
Other challenges assessed in refining regions included Ministry of Defence activity and high density shipping activity.
However the report says offshore wind may be a possibility in the future based on the rapid advances being made in terms of floating wind technology.