The European Commission approved a Belgian state aid scheme on 10 November with a maximum budget of €2.04 billion to support the construction and operation of an offshore wind farm in the Princess Elisabeth Zone.

The project is expected to have a capacity of up to 735 MW and generate up to 2.6 TWh annually. The support scheme will run for 20 years.

Tender result expected in late 2027

The aid will be awarded through a competitive bidding process, with the result expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.

Prequalification requirements will include diversifying supply chains for wind turbines and their main components to reduce dependence on imports from outside Europe.

Support through a two-way contract for difference

The aid will take the form of a monthly variable premium under a two-way contract for difference. The beneficiary will receive payments when the reference market price falls below the bid price and will pay the Belgian authorities when it rises above it.

Compensation will be based on the wind farm’s potential electricity production rather than its actual output. According to the Commission, the design avoids compensating generation during periods when its market value is negative.

"The energy we produce at home is energy we don’t need to import. The Belgium €2.04 billion scheme for lot 1 of the Princess Elisabeth offshore zone will deliver up to 2.6 TWh of clean electricity a year strengthening our energy independence while making progress towards a more competitive, decarbonised European economy," said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

Replacing the scheme approved in 2024

The programme replaces a measure approved in 2024 under which aid was not granted before the legal deadline of 31 December 2025.

The Commission assessed the new scheme under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) and concluded that it meets the framework’s conditions.