Irish developer Simply Blue Group has taken the wraps off the up to 1300MW Olympic offshore wind project off Northern Ireland.
The wind farm, the company’s second in development off the province, is located off the coast of County Down.
The Olympic project will have an option to be developed in stages in-line with a stepping-stone concept that SimplyBlue Group is using on other projects.
It will provide an opportunity for the local supply chain to set up and prepare for commercial scale opportunities offshore in Northern Ireland, said Simply Blue.
Sam McCloskey, Northern Ireland Adviser at Simply Blue Group said: “We are delighted to add another offshore wind project to our Northern Ireland portfolio, as we believe the offshore environment off the coast of Northern Ireland offers huge potential to blue economy developers such as ourselves.”
Welcoming the Olympic Offshore Wind project, Steven Agnew, Head of Renewable NI, said: “Offshore wind will play a crucial role in helping Northern Ireland to achieve a zero-carbon electricity system.
“RenewableNI is excited by the scale of the opportunity the Olympic project represents, adding to a growing portfolio of offshore developments that will bring jobs and investment as well as deliver low-cost electricity and increased energy security.
“It is vital that government matches the ambition of the Simply Blue Group and puts in place the consenting regime needed to deliver a thriving offshore renewables industry.”