The consortium comprises Rent-A-Port Energy, Electrawinds Offshore, Z-Kratch, Socofe, SRIW Environment, DEME, PowerAtSea and Aspiravi Offshore. Each of the firms owns 12.5% stake in the project.
Planned to be built 40k north of Ostend, 309MW Rentel will be the fifth offshore wind project in the Belgian North Sea.
Featuring 42 Siemens’ D7-type turbines, the project is expected to generate electricity required to power approximately 285.000 households starting in mid-2018.
Construction of the project is set to commence while the wind farm is planned to be fully operational by the end of 2018.
Rentel CEO Nathalie Oosterlinck said: “This is a very important step in the project. Thanks to this investment we do not only contribute to achieving the international, but also the Belgian climate objectives.
“By 2020, 13% of our produced energy will have to be renewable. Half of it will come from offshore wind energy.
“By investing in local power stations we reduce having to import electricity. This increases Belgium’s energy independence.”
Being financed by the consortium and a group of banks including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the project is expected to generate approximately 1400 direct jobs and another 1400 indirect jobs during development and construction phases.
Dredging International (DEME Group) will be responsible of the supply of foundations and infield cables while STX Europe will provide offshore substation for the project.
