Offshore Wind Worldwide 2022 edition - Flipbook - Page 13
Offshore Wind Worldwide 2022
I. State and future
of Offshore Wind Projects
A. Current state of offshore
wind development and projects Belgium is
currently a world leader in the offshore wind
industry with eight operational wind farms
with a 2,262 MW production capacity.1
This 2,262 MW production capacity implies
that these wind farms will produce 8.0 TWh
of electricity, which represents about 10% of
Belgium’s total electricity consumption (in
2021, the 399 wind turbines, spread over
nine zones, produced approximately 6.77
TWh, which corresponds to the annual
electricity demand of almost two million
households, or 8% of the total electricity
demand in Belgium). During the second half
of 2020, two new wind farms (Northwester 2
and Seamade) were constructed and have
begun to produce energy, which increased
the total production capacity from 1,556 MW
to 2,262 MW.2
Currently, all tender procedures in the first
(eastern) area of the Belgian North Sea
(often referred to as the “first offshore wind
phase”) are closed, but with the new
maritime spatial plan for the period 2020-
13
2026, the Belgian minister competent for the
North Sea has established the framework for
an additional wind zone of 285 km2 (the
more western “Princess Elisabeth Zone”,
consisting of three zones, Hinder North
(Zone 2), Hinder South (Zone 3), and
Fairybank (Zone 4)) close to the French
border, in addition to the wind zone of 225
km2 that already exists close to the border
with the Netherlands. This additional wind
zone intends to add another 3,000 to 3,500
MW (the “second offshore wind phase”).3
Furthermore, a new federal law4 has been
adopted in 2019 on the organisation of a
competitive bidding procedure for the
construction and operation of offshore
renewable electricity production
installations to establish, in line with EU law
obligations, general principles for the
competitive bidding procedures for awarding
domain concessions to future projects of
offshore electricity production. This federal
law has set out the framework for the new
offshore wind zone but the new tendering
procedure will still have to be adopted by
Royal Decree. There is no clear view yet on
the timing, but based on an indicative
planning, the publication of the “first” call
for competition is planned for the fourth
1
“Wind farms in Belgian North sea provided green power for nearly 2 million Belgian Households in 2021”, published by Belgian Offshore
Platform on 4 January 2022 (Wind farms in Belgian North Sea provided green power for nearly 2 million Belgian households in 2021 –
Belgian Offshore Platform); “Projects”, published by Belgian Offshore Platform (Projects – Belgian Offshore Platform).
2
“Wind farms in Belgian North sea provided green power for nearly 2 million Belgian Households in 2021”, published by Belgian Offshore
Platform on 4 January 2022 (Wind farms in Belgian North Sea provided green power for nearly 2 million Belgian households in 2021 –
Belgian Offshore Platform); “Projects”, published by Belgian Offshore Platform (Projects – Belgian Offshore Platform).
3
“First offshore wind energy zone in the Belgian North Sea fully and on time completed”, published by Belgian Offshore Platform on 3
January 2021 (First offshore wind energy zone in the Belgian North Sea fully and on time completed – Belgian Offshore Platform);
“Maritime spatial plan”, published by federal public service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment on 6 May 2020 (Maritime spatial
plan | FPS Public Health (belgium.be)); “Belgian offshore wind energy – 5.4-5.8 GW”, published by FPS Economy on 13 January 2022
(Belgian offshore wind energy -5.4-5.8 GW by 2030 | FPS Economy (fgov.be)).
4
Law 12 May 2019, amending the Act of 29 April 1999 on the organisation of the electricity market with a view to introducing a competitive
bidding procedure for the construction and operation of generating facilities in marine areas under the jurisdiction of Belgium and
ratifying the Royal Decree of 11 February 2019 amending the Royal Decree of 16 July 2002 on the establishment of mechanisms for the
promotion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources, Belgian Off. Gazette 24 May 2019, 50115.