Who is the Belgian offshore platform?
The Belgian Offshore Platform (BOP) vzw is the association of investors and owners of wind farms in the Belgian North Sea. BOP was founded in 2011 and is committed to the development of Belgian offshore wind energy and to promoting the interests of Belgian offshore wind farms.
Today, Belgian offshore wind farms represent an installed capacity of 2,262 MW, generating an average of 8 TWh of green electricity per year. This accounts for 10 per cent of Belgium’s total electricity demand. With the planned roll-out of the Princess Elisabeth Zone, an additional 3.5 GW of offshore wind capacity can be developed. That is enough to supply all Belgian households with green electricity.
Energy independence
Offshore wind provides locally generated electricity that we control ourselves and is not reliant on imported fossil fuels, thereby strengthening our energy independence.
Sustainable enterprise
Offshore wind energy is crucial to achieving the EU’s climate targets for Belgium. Wind energy produces 100 times less CO2 than fossil fuels, and the turbines have a long lifespan.
Growing economy
If we expand the Princess Elisabeth Zone in good time, Belgium’s wind energy sector could create a further 10,000 jobs on top of the existing 11,000 and contribute €1.5 billion to Belgium’s GDP.
Do you have questions about offshore wind energy or our Belgian offshore wind farms? Would you like to learn more about the history, the current state, and the future challenges of offshore wind energy in Belgium? Are you looking for educational resources for your classroom? Or would you like to discover the wind turbines up close in a safe way?