Offshore Wind Worldwide 2022 edition - Flipbook - Page 15
Offshore Wind Worldwide 2022
The wind developing sector was pushing for
completion of this second offshore wind
phase by 2024 but, given the political
situation during the period 2019-2020
(delay on the composition of the new
government delays the adoption of the royal
decree regarding the new tendering
procedure) and the fact that the Belgian
electricity grid is not yet ready for new
offshore wind capacity (it is to be noted that
Elia is currently implementing the “Ventilus
Project”, which will connect wind energy
from the North Sea to a new electricity
connection in West Flanders.
At this point in time, Elia is conducting
preliminary studies for this project (looking
into possible landfall sites, the best available
technology etc.), which will be followed by (i)
the submission of the planning permit
application in 2023, (ii) the start of the
construction works in 2024 and (iii) the end
of the construction works in 2027),
tendering of the new domain concessions are
not expected to occur before the end of 2023,
which will result in a standstill in the coming
years. 7
The Federal Minister of Energy further
announced that she will investigate the
possibility of additional capacity for offshore
wind in the Belgian North Sea and other
waters through the North Seas Energy
Cooperation and for taking chairmanship
again of this Cooperation in 2021.8
15
II. The Offshore Wind
Promotion system
A. Regulatory framework
Belgium is a federal state. The power to enact
legally binding decisions is not the exclusive
preserve of the Belgian Federal Government
and the Federal Parliament. The federal state
is organised along two lines.
The first line was related to language and, in
a broader sense, to everything related to
culture. The result was several communities:
the Flemish, French, and German-speaking
communities.
The second line of state reform was
historically inspired by economic interests.
The regions, which aspired to more
economic autonomy, conveyed these
interests. The establishment of the three
regions was the result: the Flemish, Brussels
Capital, and Walloon Regions.
The Federal State nevertheless retains
important powers; for example, in the area
of foreign affairs, national defence, justice,
finance, social security, important parts of
national health, domestic affairs, and also
offshore activities.
The legal framework for the development of
offshore wind parks in Belgium is subject to
the federal act of 29 April 1999 organising
the Electricity Market (the Electricity Act).
7
“Ventilus: a robust system for bringing offshore power onshore”, published by Elia Group (Ventilus (elia.be)); W. Vandorpe, D. Haverbeke
en L. Pellens, “Belgische offshore windproductie – Tendering the way forward, maar hoe exact? Enkele aandachtspunten” in Jaarboek
energierecht 2020, K. Deketelaere en B. Delvaux (ed.), Intersentia, October 2021, 97; “Operation Ventilus Starts in West Flanders”,
published by offshore wind on 2 April 2019 (Operation Ventilus Starts in West Flanders | Offshore Wind).
8
W. Vandorpe, D. Haverbeke en L. Pellens, “Belgische offshore windproductie – Tendering the way forward, maar hoe exact? Enkele
aandachtspunten” in Jaarboek energierecht 2020, K. Deketelaere en B. Delvaux (ed.), Intersentia, October 2021, 99.