Belwind Offshore Wind Farm
{{Short description|Belgian offshore wind farm in the North Sea}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Belwind
| image = Belwind.jpg
| location = Ostend, Zeebrugge region, North Sea
| commissioned = {{start date|2010|12|09|df=y}}
| owner = Belwind NV
| wind_hub_height = {{convert|72|m|0|abbr=on}}
| website = {{url|http://belwind.eu/en/home}}
}}
{{maplink
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|frame-height=400
|frame-lat=51.6684
|frame-long=2.8106
|zoom=12
|text=Wind farm layout
|from1=Wind turbines Belwind.map
|type2=point|id2=Q123094990|marker-size2=small|marker-color2=880000|title2=Belwind Offshore Substation
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The Belwind Wind Farm is located in Bligh Bank, {{convert|46|km}} from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, and has been built in two phases. It has a 330 MW production capacity and an estimated annual output of 1.1 TWh.{{Cite web|url=http://meewind.nl/zeewind-1/|title = Zeewind 1}} Phase 1 had a 165 MW production capacity.
[http://www.vanoord.com/gb-en/our_newsroom/archive_news_releases/news_archive_2010/completion_belwind_and_new_installation_vessel/index.php Van Oord has completed Belwind] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717010907/http://www.vanoord.com/gb-en/our_newsroom/archive_news_releases/news_archive_2010/completion_belwind_and_new_installation_vessel/index.php |date=July 17, 2011 }} Van Oord, 9 December 2010. Accessed: 10 December 2010.
Financing
Bligh Bank is the first stage of what is planned to be a 330 MW project. It was financed under a Project Finance structure by Project Company ‘Belwind’, after a number of delays{{cite web | title = Background to Belwind Financing | url = http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/5608#more | accessdate = 2009-08-03}} that included bankruptcy of developer Econcern.{{cite news | title = Econcern file for bankruptcy | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/bankruptcyNews/idUSLQ23289420090526?sp=true | accessdate = 2009-08-03 | work=Reuters | date=2009-05-26}} Financial completion was eventually reached on 27 July 2009. Bligh Bank is only the third offshore wind farm to be Project Financed, following Q7 and Thornton Bank. The €614 million deal sees Colruyt Group, the Colruyt family, SHV, ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen, Meewind and Rabo Project Equity, come together to invest in the construction of the 165 MW first stage of the Project.{{cite web | title = Belwind Press Release | url = http://belwind.eu/files/604739_belwind%20persdossier_ENG.pdf | accessdate = 2012-12-20 | archive-url = http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160118141207/http://www.belwind.eu/files/604739_belwind%20persdossier_ENG.pdf | archive-date = 2016-01-18 | url-status = dead }} For the first time the European Investment Bank will assume project finance risk for an offshore wind farm, by granting €300 million towards financing the Project.{{cite web | title = EIB Press Release | url = http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2009/2009-156-eib-financing-of-eur-300mio-for-belwind-offshore-windfarm.htm | accessdate = 2009-08-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090910200751/http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2009/2009-156-eib-financing-of-eur-300mio-for-belwind-offshore-windfarm.htm | archive-date = 2009-09-10 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | title = EIB Financing details | url = http://www.eib.org/attachments/press/090724-belwind-amounts-detailed.pdf | accessdate = 2012-12-20}}
In January 2011, SHV sold its 20,7 % equity-share to the other Belgian shareholders Colruyt Group, the Colruyt family and ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen.{{cite web | title = Meewind Participants meeting May 2012 | url = https://meewind.nl/wp-content/uploads/VERSLAG_PARTICIPANTENVERGADERING_MEEWIND_mei_2012_def.pdf | accessdate = 2012-12-20}} The financial close of the Second Phase of the project was on 6 October 2015.
First phase
Construction of the first phase commenced in August 2009 and was completed on 9 December 2010.[http://www.yvesleterme.be/nl/toespraak-van-eerste-minister-yves-leterme-bij-de-inhuldiging-van-het-belwind-windturbinepark-op-de- Toespraak van Eerste Minister Yves Leterme bij de inhuldiging van het Belwind windturbinepark op de Blighbank (Noordzee)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706142629/http://www.yvesleterme.be/nl/toespraak-van-eerste-minister-yves-leterme-bij-de-inhuldiging-van-het-belwind-windturbinepark-op-de- |date=2011-07-06 }}, 9 December 2010. Accessed: 10 December 2010.{{Cite web |url=http://belwind.eu/nl/nieuws/4 |title=Belwind - Nieuws |access-date=2010-12-10 |archive-date=2011-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720153339/http://belwind.eu/nl/nieuws/4 |url-status=dead }}
The wind farm includes an Offshore High Voltage Station which converts the infield 33kV to the export cable (150kV). This export cable is connected to the second high-voltage station, (the Booster Transformer Station) in Zeebrugge.{{cite web | title = Van Oord - EPC Contractor | url = http://www.vanoord.com/activities/belwind-phase-1-offshore-wind-farm | accessdate = 2012-12-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021005021/http://www.vanoord.com/activities/belwind-phase-1-offshore-wind-farm | archive-date = 2012-10-21 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/belwind--belgium-be03.html|title=Belwind – 4C Offshore|publisher=|accessdate=28 March 2016}} In 2012, Alstom planned to install a wind turbine of 6 MW Haliade as a test,{{cite web | title = Alstom 6 MW Haliade 150 | url = http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2012/3/alstom-inaugurates-the-largest-offshore-wind-turbine-in-the-world-near-saint-nazaire-/ | accessdate = 2012-12-20}} which happened in November 2013.{{citation| url=http://www.modernpowersystems.com/news/newsfirst-offshore-installation-of-alstoms-haliade-150| title = First offshore installation of Alstom's Haliade 150| date = 22 November 2013| work = www.modernpowersystems.com}}{{citation| url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2013/11/20/20005-20131120ARTFIG00541-alstom-installe-sa-premiere-eolienne-en-mer.php| title = Alstom installe sa première éolienne en mer| first = Frédéric|last = De MonicaultMis |date = 21 November 2013| work = www.lefigaro.fr|language=french}}{{cite web|url=http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/belwind-alstom-haliade-demonstration-belgium-be11.html |title=Belwind Alstom Haliade Demonstration - 4C Offshore|publisher=|accessdate=28 March 2016}}
Second phase
The construction of the second phase was mostly in 2016, with the first foundation on 12 May, first turbine on 27 of October and first electricity production 9 January 2017. The park has been fully commissioned as of 24 May 2017.
Revenue
The Belwind Wind Farm has a green certificate, meaning it will receive a set minimum price through Elia, €107 per MWh for the first 216 MW, the remaining 114 MW will receive €90 per MWh.{{cite web | title = Minimum price and legal fram | url = http://www.elia.be/en/products-and-services/green-certificates/Minimumprice-legalframe | accessdate = 2012-12-20}}
In 2011, it received €49,51 per MWh through the sale of the generated electricity to Electrabel.{{cite web | title = Meewind participating in Belwind | url = https://meewind.nl/wp-content/uploads/Nadere-toelichting-belegging-d-d-29-februari-2012.pdf | accessdate = 2012-12-20}}
See also
{{Portal|Renewable energy|Belgium|Weather}}
References
{{Reflist|40em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.belwind.eu/}}
- [http://www.lorc.dk/Knowledge/Offshore-renewables-map/Offshore-site-datasheet/Belwind-Offshore-Wind-Farm/000045 LORC - Belwind Datasheet]
Category:Offshore wind farms in the North Sea
Category:Wind farms in Belgium