Energy infrastructure company Bouvet Island

Why is ETB building a high-voltage wind farm?

ETB says that this is an important project to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, as well as help Europe transition towards green energy and meet the EU’s renewable energy targets. The high-voltage infrastructure installed on the island will bundle together the export cables of other Princess Elisabeth Zone wind farms.

Where will the energy island be located?

The energy island will be located about 45 kilometres off the coast. The area set aside for the installation of the electrical infrastructure will be approximately 6 hectares in size, which is equivalent to about 12 football pitches.

Is Belgium a world first in offshore wind power?

Julie De Nul, director Jan De Nul Group “Belgium has been a pioneer in offshore wind power for 15 years and is once again demonstrating its expertise today through its first energy island - which is also a world first. Our offshore expertise is now recognised worldwide.

How will Belgium benefit from a wind farm?

encourage a rich ecosystem to thrive around it, thanks to its nature-inclusive design. The island will therefore give Belgium access to offshore wind energy produced by wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth Zone: around 60 km of DC cables and 300 km of AC cables will be installed around it, bringing electricity back to the mainland.

Will Belgium build a high-voltage grid in the North Sea?

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has already approved a €650 million (around US$705 million) grant to Belgium’s high-voltage grid operator Elia Transmission Belgium to build the island. The North Sea is famous as one of Europe's top crude production sites, with the UK and Norway accounting for about 80% of the region's output.

How much money did the Belgian government give to the energy island?

The energy island has received funding from the European Covid Recovery Fund. The Belgian government decided to award the island with a grant of approximately €100 million. Now that the construction contract has been awarded, the design of the island can be finalised.