4C Offshore Empowering Intelligence

Record-breaking wind production in Belgium

4C Offshore | Tom Russell
By: Tom Russell 04/03/2020 Belgian Offshore Platform
Belgium experienced record breaking wind energy production in February 2020 with increased capacity coming online in the North Sea. According to the Belgian Offshore Platform (BOP), 804 GWh was produced which corresponds to the annual consumption of 230,000 households.

The installed capacity of offshore wind in North Sea increased this month by 60 MW, due to the commissioning of the first wind turbines at the
Northwester 2 offshore wind farm. Overall capacity increased from 1556 to 1616 MW. Compared to February 2019, installed capacity increased by 430 MW, or 36.5%. This included 370 MW from Norther and 60 MW for Northwester 2.

Wind conditions also lent a hand in increasing production. The average capacity factor in February 2020 was 74% compared to the previous record set at 70% in December 2015. Over the last five years, the average capacity factor for February was 53%. BOP stated that with a capacity factor of 53%, a production of 570 GWh can be expected – production in February was therefore approximately 40% higher this year than expected according to the five-year average.

Belgium plans to have installed 2.3 GW of offshore wind power by the end of 2020 at is on track to meet this target with the construction of the
Northwester 2, Mermaid and Seastar projects underway. Tenders for additional capacity are expected to be launched from 2023.

The BOP is a non-profit association of investors and owners of wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea. It was founded in 2011 to advocate the development of wind energy in the Belgian waters of the North Sea.


For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here.

Premium

ForeSEE Premium, our most popular subscription, gives you full access to use the ForeSEE WebApp which includes exclusive offshore wind, transmission and vessel reports, news and downloads.

Request a 30 minute Demo

Trending News!