Belgium is aiming for a greener future with the construction of Princess Elisabeth Island, an ambitious energy project aimed at bolstering renewable energy in Europe.
Led by Belgian energy company Elia and partially financed by the European Investment Bank, this artificial island is being built in the North Sea, 45 kilometers off the Belgian coast.
Its objective is to integrate 3.5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy with interconnections with neighboring countries.
A, described by the authors of the ambitious project as a “extension cord with multiple sockets”will house conversion stations for high voltage alternating current and high voltage direct current.
The first powers homes and appliances, while the second is more efficient for long-distance power transmission.
Construction officially began in September 2023, in Flushing, in the Netherlands, with the creation of huge “caissons”, each weighing around 22 thousand tons and with a construction time of three months.
These coffins will form the base of the island, located in the Princess Elisabeth Zone, the designated area for wind energy in the North Sea.
Despite being promising, the project faces major challenges. financial obstacles.
With a budget initially estimated at 2.1 billion euros, costs increased to 7 billion euros. Rising costs have raised concerns, prompting Elia’s new CEO, Bernard Gustinhighlighting the importance of long-term planning.
“We also have to look at the long term“, highlights Gustin, quoted by . “We cannot regret our decision ten years from now. The energy transition is broader than Belgium and Germany. The United States also continues to be an interesting market for Elia.”
The financial challenges result from a combination of factors, including increased demand for green energy in the wake of the 2022 war in Ukraine.
Despite these obstacles, stopping the project is not an option without significant consequences. Abandoning these initiatives would mean continuing to depend on fossil fuels, compromising global climate objectives.
In response, Elia is auditing the island’s design and costs, with plans to present a revised proposal by 2025.
