Belgium Proposes 4GW by 2030 Offshore Wind Target

The Federal Parliament of Belgium has proposed a target of 4GW of total installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 in the draft of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).

The draft of the NECP was presented on a workshop that the Federal Parliament organized with EUFORES (the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources) on 5 February.

In the current draft of the plan, Belgium promises a total 2030 renewables target of 18.3%, which is said to stand in contrast to the country’s 2020 renewable energy target of 13%.

According to WindEurope, the draft of the NECP emphasizes grid and system integration, infrastructure, the decarbonization of heating and industrial process, as well as a complete nuclear phase-out by 2025.

The Belgian federal government will request input from various advisory councils and organize a large public consultation on the draft text.

The European Commission will give feedback on the NECP in June, with the plan expected to be finalized and sent to the Commission by the end of the year.

Belgium recently took fifth place in the global offshore wind capacity rankings as the 309MW Rentel offshore wind farm went online.