New partnership will strengthen offshore wind collaboration between Norway and Northern Ireland

The signing ceremony, held on 29 October, during Invest Northern Ireland's Cluster Acceleration Conference, marks a significant milestone in establishing this strategic partnership. 

Commenting on the signing, the NOW EU Advisor, Tor Arne Johnsen, stated: “Norwegian Offshore Wind represents almost 400 companies targeting the offshore wind market. The cluster has dedicated working group for the UK and Irish markets with almost 100 members and regularly organises trade visits to partner markets. This MoU cements a stronger cooperation between the clusters in offshore wind, and associated areas and will be platform for further cooperation with Northern Ireland.”

NIMO, which is being funded by Invest Northern Ireland’s Collaborative Growth Programme, unites Northern Ireland’s Maritime and Offshore sectors by supporting members to unlock commercial opportunities through innovation and collaboration.

NIMO officially launched in April 2024 and currently represents over 50 companies and organisations working in the offshore and maritime sectors. The cluster aims to support a strong and dynamic supply chain, contribute to the local economy through the identification of key markets and opportunities, both regionally and internationally, while developing the right skills and attract more people to the maritime and offshore sectors. 

Stephen Kane, NIMO Chair, said “We are delighted to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with NOW at this workshop that highlights the opportunities of clusters. This collaboration is expected to benefit both regions in our journey to deliver green energy and to meet our Net Zero targets.

This comes at a perfect time as the Northern Ireland government, developers and the supply chain are preparing for a new offshore wind leasing round for approximately 1GW of energy.”

Kieran Donoghue, Invest NI’s CEO said: “This Memorandum of Understanding represents a pivotal step forward in our shared commitment to a sustainable future. By connecting the expertise and innovation of Northern Ireland’s Maritime and Offshore sectors with the NOW cluster’s extensive experience in offshore wind, energy storage, and future fuels, we are creating new pathways for growth and collaboration that will directly support our Net Zero ambitions.

This partnership will strengthen our supply chain in these critical sectors and further strengthen Northern Ireland’s position as a strategic player in the global green economy.”