Information
- Type
- Project
- Name
- Optimal Offshore Wind Energy Developments in Belgium
- Description @en
- Context
The European Commission has published its White Paper on Renewable Sources of Energy in 1997, in which the target was set to achieve 12% of the domestic consumption of the European Union by 2010. In 2001, the European directive on green electricity was published, in which indicative targets for each EU member states. Belgium is expected to strive towards a contribution of 6% of renewable sources (RES) to its gross inland consumption by 2010.
Wind energy represents a major form of sustainable electricity generation. With an installed capacity of the order of 13GW, wind energy is currently the 3rd highest source of RE electricity in the EU, and constituted almost 1% of total electricity generating capacity in 1999. Undoubtedly, the resource potential, particularly in offshore areas, is enormous, and with several initiatives underway to increase the share of wind energy consumption in the European Union (EU), it is clear that the development of offshore wind energy will play a crucial role.
In the framework of the European Commission’s (EC) Renewable Energy Strategy, wind energy, with a target of 40GW by 2010, is expected to provide the second most important contribution to the growth in energy from RES. The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has gone a step further in anticipating a feasible target of 60GW for all wind energy by 2010, 5GW coming from offshore resources.
- Project description
Belgium is at the forefront of implementation of offshore wind in its territorial seas, and - depending on the outcome of running administrative procedures - be among the first EU member states with large first generation offshore wind farms in its territorial seas.
- Parent project
- Research action SPSD-II: Second scientific support plan for a sustainable development policy
- Start date
- 2001-12
- End date
- 2003-11