First ever Belgian Wind Day an instant hit
25/03/2026
Wind power plays a crucial role in our energy independence. That much is clearer than ever given the geopolitical tension and volatile energy prices we are faced with today. To reinforce that message, BOP, Edora and VWEA organised the first ever national day all about wind power. During this Belgian Wind Day, policymakers, industrial actors, grid operators, economic stakeholders and European experts all gathered in one place with a single goal: to develop a credible and future-oriented roadmap for Belgium and its regions together.
The role of wind power in Europe and Belgium
The programme at the Belgian Wind Day was extremely varied. Our Minister of Energy, Mathieu Bihet, was the first to take to the stage. Next, Laila Kienel, Deputy Head of Unit for Renewables and Energy System Integration Policy, provided more detail on the European framework. Vasiliki Klonari, Director of Energy System Integration at WindEurope, presented the ‘Delivering a cost-effective energy system for Europe’ study, which once again confirmed that even when grid, storage and backup costs are taken into account, an energy system based on renewable sources of energy remains the most cost-effective option.
Insight into the current situation in Belgium was provided by Bérénice Crabs, Secretary-General at BOP, Maarten Dedeyne, Director at VWEA, and Fawaz Al-Bitar, Managing Director at Edora. Today, Belgium has access to 5.8 GW of installed wind capacity, 2.2 GW of which is offshore. Further expansion is not only possible, but essential too. Johan Albrecht, Professor of Economics and Energy Policy at Ghent University and founding member of the Itinera Institute think tank, discussed the importance of wind power from an academic perspective.
“Wind power is not an option, but a strategic necessity. Without targeted investment in more onshore and offshore wind power, we cannot keep building toward lasting energy security. And without accelerating the rollout, we will never achieve sovereignty.”
Bérénice Crabs, Secretary-General at BOP.
We then heard a fascinating panel debate with Frédéric Panier, CEO at AKT, Yannick Van den Broeck, energy and climate expert at VOKA, Nicolas Janssen, vice-chair on the energy committee of the Walloon Parliament, and Bart Martens, energy expert in the Flemish Government. Mathias Verkest, BOP’s chair, and Michel Helbig de Balzac, Edora’s chair, delivered the concluding remarks.
A successful debut for the Belgian Wind Day
So did this initial edition achieve what it set out to do? You bet! With over 200 participants and a range of speakers from the sector, the world of politics and academia, the first Belgian Wind Day was a huge success. During the closing reception and networking event, the participants got the chance to continue the conversation and share valuable insights into our Belgian wind power sector. The cherry on top of an inspiring event, in other words. We’re already looking forward to the next edition in 2027!
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