News
Supporting major expansion of renewable wind power at the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium
Tractebel is supporting ENGIE in the development of eight new wind turbines at the Port of Zeebrugge, bringing integrated renewable energy expertise to one of Belgium’s largest recent wind projects. Preparatory earthworks will begin this month.
ENGIE is set to begin the civil engineering works for the construction of eight new wind turbines at the Port of Zeebrugge, with a combined capacity of 42.6 MW. Three of the turbines will be installed at the Wallenius Wilhelmsen RoRo terminal, while the other five will be located on the premises of International Car Operators (ICO). In 2020, ENGIE, working with ICO and Portfineco, already commissioned an 11-turbine wind farm at this site with a total capacity of 44 MW.
Tractebel’s integrated contribution
Tractebel has supported ENGIE throughout the project with feasibility studies, Owner’s Engineer services for the procurement of the wind turbine package, wind resource and energy yield assessments, and contractual advisory services. By combining these disciplines, Tractebel is helping ENGIE manage the project’s technical, commercial and contractual requirements within the complex industrial and logistics environment of the port.
A major wind energy investment
The new turbines will appear on the Zeebrugge skyline in the second half of 2027, when the towers will be erected and the nacelles and blades installed. From early 2028, they will produce around 115 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity per year, equivalent to the average electricity consumption of approximately 33,000 households over the same period.
The expansion is jointly financed by ENGIE, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Portfineco (50% Zefier and 50% Port of Antwerp-Bruges). ENGIE is responsible for the operational management of the turbines on behalf of the joint project company Seagull I.
With 217 wind turbines operating on Belgian soil and representing a total capacity of 611 MW, ENGIE makes a significant contribution to the supply of renewable electricity to Belgian industry and households. To continue expanding our renewable electricity generation capacity, we are focusing primarily on large-scale projects in suitable locations, such as port and industrial areas, which are so important to the Belgian economy. With this project, we are strengthening Zeebrugge’s role as an energy hub for the region.
Vincent Verbeke
CEO of ENGIE Belgium
This is one of Belgium’s largest recent wind developments, combining significant renewable energy capacity with the challenge of integrating additional turbines into the complex landscape of the Port of Zeebrugge. Tractebel is mobilizing its renewable energy expertise to support the delivery of this project.
Henry Van Vyve
Project Manager, Tractebel
The project in figures: eight wind turbines across three sites
- Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Alfred Ronsestraat (N350): three Vestas V150-6.0 MW wind turbines, with a rotor diameter of 150 metres and a blade-tip height of 200 metres
- International Car Operators, Southern Inlet Dock: two Vestas V150-6.0 MW wind turbines, with a rotor diameter of 150 metres and a blade-tip height of 200 metres
- International Car Operators, Northern Inlet Dock: three Vestas V136-4.2 MW wind turbines, with a rotor diameter of 136 metres and a blade-tip height of 180 metres