Signing of connection contract of the Belwind offshore wind farm to the Elia-grid

Image: EWEA / GE Wind

Evelop, part of sustainable-energy company Econcern, has signed a connection contract with Belgian system operator Elia concerning its Belwind offshore wind farm. The move means that construction of a second wind farm in the North Sea off the Belgian coast is now a step closer. Belwind will be connected to the Elia grid via the 150-kV Blondeellaan substation in Zeebrugge and will begin supplying electricity from there in 2010. Belwind is to be built on Bligh Bank, a sand bank 46 kilometres off the Belgian coast where the sea reaches depths of between 20 and 35 metres. Belwind will be built in two phases and will have a total production capacity of 330 MW. Evelop estimates that annual production will reach 1.1 TWh, the equivalent of the consumption of both Antwerp and Ghent (altogether some 330,000 households), in renewable energy.

Evelop and Elia have already reached agreement on the purchase of green certificates for Belwind and have signed a contract detailing co-financing arrangements for the underwater cable connecting the offshore wind farm to the Elia grid; both green certificates and co-financing arrangements are key elements of statutory renewable-energy policy in Belgium. Elia is to contribute EUR25 million to the sea cable project and will subsequently purchase all of Belwind's green certificates for the legally stipulated minimum price for a period of 20 years.

Frank Coenen of Evelop Belgium said: "We are delighted to be able to work so closely with Elia on such a key project and signing these agreements means that we are now one step closer to getting Belwind off the ground. The project dovetails perfectly with our vision of building a Europe-wide network of power stations producing renewable energy. Following on from the Prinses Amalia Wind Farm in the Netherlands, Belwind will contribute further to our mission to supply sustainable energy for everyone."

"We are pleased to be able to play an active role in boosting production of electricity from renewable sources. Elia has paved the way for the first offshore wind farms through its proactive efforts to upgrade its grid," said Elia CEO Daniel Dobbeni.

Facts & figures: Belwind

Belwind is an initiative by Evelop. Its application for a concession to build a wind farm on Bligh Bank was granted in June 2007 and building and operating permits were issued in early 2008. The facility will be situated within a special zone earmarked by the Belgian Government for wind farms. Belwind will be built in two phases (each 165 MW): it will have a total capacity of 330 MW and will produce 1.1 TWh of electricity annually ‚Äì enough to supply sustainable energy for 330,000 households in Belgium. A total of over EUR 900 million is to be invested in the project. The park will be built 46 kilometres off the coast of Zeebrugge at a depth of between 20 and 35 metres and the turbines will be installed across an area of 35 km2.

Source: Evelop