Belgium’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm is Ready to be Built
The construction of Norther Offshore Wind Farm can now really begin. Following the European Commission’s state-aid approval, the Norther project has completed its financing phase and all contracts have been signed. Offshore works are planned to start in the spring of 2018. From the summer of 2019 on, this wind farm will supply energy to about 400.000 households. This was made possible in part by the collaboration of the federal government and the support of eight banks, the European Investment Bank and EKF (Export Credit Agency of Denmark).
Norther counts 44 MHI Vestas 8.4MW turbines. This renders a total maximum capacity of 370MW, which makes it the largest offshore wind farm in Belgium. It will be built 23km off the coast, between Ostend and Zeebruges. Important partners in the construction part of this project are, amongst others, MHI Vestas (supplier of the wind turbines), Van Oord (installing foundations, sea cables and offshore high-voltage substation) and Elia (connection to the transport grid).
Norther NV (50% Elicio, 25% Eneco and 25% Diamond Generating Europe) is responsible for the development, construction and operation of the Norther offshore wind farm. Norther started its development in 2008.