Belgian ministers visit energy island being built in Vlissingen-Oost

By means of: Joep Bbrakers

Wed Apr 24, 4:07 pm

General

VLISSINGEN-OOST – The foundations are currently being laid in Vlissingen-Oost for a groundbreaking project: the Princess Elisabeth Energy Island off the Belgian coast. The first of the 23 immense concrete caissons is almost ready. This milestone today attracted high visitors from Belgium to Vlissingen-Oost, where the construction of this innovative construction is taking place. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and State Secretary for Relance and Strategic Investments Thomas Dermine visit the caisson yard in Vlissingen.

This visit was dedicated to the Belgian consortium of DEME and Jan De Nul (TM EDISON), which is building the foundations of the energy island on behalf of the Belgian grid operator Elia Transmission. This artificial island, located 45 kilometers off the Belgian coast, represents a world first and is seen as a crucial step in the realization of a unified European high-voltage grid at sea, essential for a successful energy transition in Belgium.

Caissons
During the visit, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo emphasized the importance of the North Sea as a future power station for Belgium’s energy independence. He views Princess Elisabeth Island as a crucial link in this process and praises Belgium’s innovative strength in the field of offshore wind energy. The project involves the construction of 23 caissons, large concrete building blocks that form the outer walls of the energy island. The first of these caissons, almost completed, will be sunk in the North Sea this summer. The scale of the project only becomes clear with the construction of these impressive structures. Each caisson measures no less than 57 meters in length, 30 meters in width and height, and weighs 22,000 tons. It takes three months to complete one caisson. They will then be transported to a nearby port using a semi-submersible ship, where they will be temporarily stored before being moved to their final location in the North Sea this summer – if the weather is favorable.

Wind farms
Princess Elisabeth Island promises to be a technological tour de force, where direct current (HVDC) and alternating current (HVAC) will be combined. This high-voltage infrastructure will not only bundle the electricity cables of the nearby wind farms, but also serve as a hub for future interconnectors, allowing power exchange between countries. The project enjoys significant support from both the Belgian and European governments, with a subsidy of approximately 100 million euros from the European Covid Recovery Fund. This support will not only be used for the realization of the energy island, but also for nature measures that will strengthen biodiversity on and around the island, in line with the ‘nature inclusive design’ that was developed in collaboration with experts in nature conservation and the marine environment. is developed.