You know, they say that complicated problems require creative solutions, but inventing a never-before-seen type of island and then building it off the coast of Belgium is definitely a new one to us.
Nevertheless, that’s precisely what’s happening: the European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €650 million (around US$705 million) loan for the construction of Princess Elisabeth Island – a landmass set to be the world’s first ever artificial “energy island”.
It’s a project being run by Belgium’s high-voltage grid operator Elia Transmission Belgium. Once complete, the company projects an output of 3.5 gigawatts of energy to help power the small European country – enough to power more than 3 million households, notes a statement from Elia.
Rather than generating power, like the huge offshore wind farms that populate the seas nearby, Princess Elisabeth Island will act more like a central hub for energy: “The high-voltage infrastructure installed on the island will bundle together the export cables of the Princess Elisabeth Zone wind farms,” the statement from Elia explains.
Hosting both both high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and alternating current (HVAC) infrastructure, the island’s interconnectors will “perform two functions at once,” the company boasts, “meaning that their design is more efficient than that of most current interconnectors.”
While the island’s primary task will be to reduce Belgium’s high reliance on fossil fuel-generated energy, eventually the hope is to connect up with other European countries. This international approach is why it’s qualified for such substantial support from the EIB, as well as being backed by the EU’s REPowerEU initiative, which aims to secure affordable and sustainable green energy for the bloc.
“The Princess Elisabeth Island project is a cornerstone for enhancing Belgium’s and Europe’s energy security and independence,” said Robert de Groot, Vice President of the EIB, in the statement. “This initiative not only strengthens Belgium’s energy infrastructure but also fosters vital interconnections with neighbouring countries, thereby promoting increased regional cooperation.”
Set to be located around 45 kilometers (28 miles) off the coast of Ostend, the island is currently in initial stages of construction: “The first of the island’s caissons, or foundations, are currently being built in Vlissingen (the Netherlands),” Elia notes, “and will soon be sunk at sea and filled with sand to form the foundations of the island.” Even so, the project has already run into financial straits, with some consumers calling for the plan to be nixed altogether.
Nevertheless, Elia maintains that Princess Elisabeth Island is the best option, both from a technical viewpoint and an economical one. “Creating an artificial energy island [will] amplify Europe’s innovative edge and competitiveness amidst a global energy shift,” said Catherine Vandenborre, interim CEO of Elia Group.
And evidently, the EIB agrees. “By investing in this project, the EIB and Elia are deepening the European power market,” de Groot said, “and paving the way for a sustainable, more secure and resilient energy future for all European citizens.”
