General – Energy Island
The Belgian Council of Ministers has approved the Royal Decree granting Elia the domain concession for the construction and operation of Princess Elisabeth Island.
The domain concession is awarded for a period of 40 years, with the possibility of extension.
In addition, the energy island has been selected for a €3.7 million grant from the European Commission under the LIFE program. The grant will be used specifically to promote an environment in which birds can nest and settle.
This is another step towards the (near) construction of the Princess Elisabeth Island. Once the domain concession is granted, preparation for the construction of the energy island can begin. This domain concession will be granted for 40 years, with the possibility of extension.
The energy island will be installed for at least a century.
The Princess Elisabeth Island is an artificial island located 45 km off the Belgian coast. The Princess Elisabeth Island is an extension of the electricity grid in the North Sea. It connects offshore wind farms to the mainland and establishes new connections with foreign countries, such as Denmark and the UK.
Current planning foresees the installation of the caissons in 2024 and 2025, with the installation of 8 to 12 caissons in 2024. The electrical infrastructure will be installed after the works on the island itself.
Construction of the island will be completed in 2026.
