Artificial Island Acts as a Renewable Energy Hub

­Offshore wind generation is generally more dependable than onshore wind. However, onshore wind turbines are less expensive, both in terms of construction and ongoing costs. The ideal solution could possibly be to locate wind turbines on an island to take advantage of the strong, regular offshore wind, while having the installation and running costs of onshore wind generation – and if there isn’t an island already in the ideal location, then just build your own! That is the thinking behind a new project located in Belgium.

Princess Elisabeth Island will be the world’s first artificial island that is dedicated to energy. The new island will be constructed in the North Sea and is expected to be completed in 2027. It will be located around 45 km off the Belgian coast, within the Princess Elisabeth wind zone. When it is completed, it will contribute about 3.5 GW of offshore wind capacity to Belgium’s electricity grid, which is enough to power 3 million homes, and it will play a large part in reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The project has a budget of €650 million ($702 million), and it will be funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) as part of the EU's REPowerEU plan. Belgian transmission operator Elia Transmission Belgium (Elia) will be responsible for completing the first phase of the project.

Princess Elisabeth Island will host both high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and alternating current (HVAC) infrastructure. That high voltage infrastructure will connect the energy from the island’s windfarms to the mainland. As a further benefit, the infrastructure will also connect other North Sea wind farms to the island, and the island to both EU countries and external countries, such as the United Kingdom, for energy export. That infrastructure will allow the island to act as an energy trading hub by using specialized "hybrid interconnector" transmission lines that are capable of two-way energy flows.

Talking of the project, Robert de Groot, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, explained, “The Princess Elisabeth Island project will enhance energy security and independence for both Belgium and the European continent. 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.”

As the EU moves away from reliance on fossil fuels towards a carbon free future, its infrastructure is needs to be upgraded and redesigned to cope. The intermittent nature of renewable energy generation means that lots of energy will need to be transferred large distances to cover for areas where generation is low at that time. The artificial energy island is the first real step in that direction, and I think we will see a few more similar proposals in the future, both in Europe and across the world.