Engie Plans to Build 'Tallest' Turbine in Belgium

Engie and recycling company Renewi have obtained a permit for the construction of a wind turbine which they say will be the tallest in Belgium.

Located on the Renewi site in the Port of Ghent, the permit allows for a wind turbine with a maximum tip height of 242.5 metres – the highest yet in the country.

Thanks to this turbine, Renewi will be able to cover about 75% of its electricity needs with locally produced renewable power.

Currently Engie is busy making preparations for the construction of the wind turbine.

Taking into account the longer delivery times for wind turbine parts, construction work is expected to start in the second half of 2022.

The commissioning of the wind turbine is scheduled for Q1 2023.

Building a new wind turbine in the industrial environment of the Port of Ghent means that on-site renewable electricity can be used directly by the surrounding companies.

The establishment of waste management and recycling company Renewi at the Moervaartkaai in the port of Ghent will also become even more sustainable when it is equipped with a wind turbine of the latest generation.

Rapid technological developments are making wind turbines ever larger and more efficient, making it possible to make the most of the renewable energy potential of industrial estates such as Renewi's.

Engie took into account the dimensions of the latest and largest models of wind turbines for use on the mainland and applied for a permit for a wind turbine with a tip height of 242.5 metres and 155 metres rotor diameter.

The new 4.5MW wind turbine is expected to generate around 13 million KWh of electricity annually, which is approximately equivalent to the annual consumption of 4300 households.

Renewi will be able to directly reduce about 75% of its electricity consumption from the wind turbine – saving around 5700 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of the annual emissions of around 2600 diesel cars.

Engie Benelux chief executive Philippe Van Troeye said: "Engie has committed itself to playing a leading role in the transition to a carbon neutral future and has ambitious targets: by 2030, we want to double our onshore wind energy capacity.

"Thanks to our collaboration with Renewi, we are getting one step closer to achieving that goal."

Renewi Belgium managing director Wim Geens added: "Our recycling and recovery activities may provide a nice advantage of avoided CO2emissions, but we recognise the need to reduce the CO2impact of our own activities as much as possible.

"Waste-to-product without CO2 impact is therefore one of our ambitious sustainability goals that we want to achieve by 2050."