Belgium to launch world’s first artificial energy island

The Princess Elisabeth Island will be constructed between 2024 and 2027, about 45 km off the Belgian coast within the Princess Elisabeth wind zone. It is one of ETB’s key projects and the world’s first artificial energy island. 

By integrating 3.5GW of additional offshore wind capacity into Belgium’s electricity grid (enough to power more than three million households), Princess Elisabeth Island will reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and provide more affordable green electricity, contributing to social welfare and industrial competitiveness.

It will also significantly contribute to the European Union meeting
its renewable energy targets and climate-neutrality goals.

Strong support from European institutions
In addition to unlocking Belgium’s second offshore wind zone, the Princess Elisabeth Zone, the island will serve as a landing point for additional interconnectors linking Belgium to its neighbours. 

Another important element for the EU bank is the project’s innovative nature, featuring hybrid interconnectors and a nature-inclusive design to foster biodiversity and support marine life, making it a benchmark for sustainable energy solutions.

The energy island will play an important role in the green energy transition for both Belgium and the
broader European Union, which is why it receives substantial EU support. The project is backed by the REPowerEU initiative, which aims to reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuel imports and accelerate the shift to sustainable energy.

Additionally, the energy island is a flagship project within Belgium’s recovery and resilience plan, securing a €100 million loan from the overarching European Recovery and Resilience Facility under NextGenerationEU.

“The Princess Elisabeth Island project is a cornerstone for enhancing Belgium’s and Europe’s energy security and independence.

“This initiative not only strengthens Belgium’s energy infrastructure but also fosters vital
interconnections with neighbouring countries, thereby promoting increased regional cooperation. 

“By investing in this project, the EIB and Elia are deepening the European power market and paving the way for a sustainable, more secure and resilient energy future for all European citizens.”

Innovation to accelerate the energy transition
The Princess Elisabeth Island will be the first artificial energy island in the world to host both high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and alternating current (HVAC) infrastructure. 

The first of the island’s caissons, or foundations, are currently being built in Vlissingen (the Netherlands) and will soon be
sunk at sea and filled with sand to form the foundations of the island.

The high-voltage infrastructure installed on the island will bundle together the export cables of the Princess Elisabeth Zone wind farms while also serving as a hub for future interconnectors that will link Belgium to the UK and other countries. 

These hybrid interconnectors will perform two functions at once, meaning that their design is more efficient than that of most current interconnectors. 

They will enable power exchanges between Belgium and its neighbours whilst also being connected to large offshore wind farms in the North Sea. The latter will eventually supply Belgium with large quantities of renewable energy.