Today, Denmark and Belgium have signed a Memorandum of Agreement in which the two countries express their mutual cooperation on promoting clean energy production and cross-border energy transmission.
The objective of the agreement is to expand and advance the planning and development of a connection between Belgium and the energy island in the Danish area of the North Sea. This first-of-its-kind project will serve as a cornerstone of Belgian and Danish climate ambitions towards full decarbonisation of the energy systems, including both direct and indirect electrification via renewables. Moreover, the project will contribute to reaching European climate neutrality by integrating more wind power.
”The climate crisis is a global crisis that needs transnational solutions. With this partnership, Denmark and Belgium lead the way in the European green transition. The vision of the energy island is to share the abundance of green electricity with our neighboring countries, so that we move towards a net-zero future together as the energy islands ensure cost-efficient harvesting of vast offshore wind resources, limit dependence on energy import and improve European security of supply,” Danish Minister of Climate Dan Jørgensen said.
“Denmark and Belgium are both world leaders in offshore wind energy. With the energy islands and the hybrid interconnection, we are once again pioneering and turning the North Sea into one large sustainable power plant. Thanks to the interconnection, the Triton Link - named after the king of the sea -, Belgium and Denmark will have direct access to a large amount of renewable energy needed to decarbonise our energy-intensive industry and meet European climate targets. The connection ensures better integration of renewable energy in the European electricity system,” said Belgian Energy Minister, Tinne Van der Straeten.
The two countries have been cooperating on the development of offshore wind in the North Sea for years. With this Memorandum of Agreement, Denmark and Belgium agree to elaborate on a high-level analysis to clarify all technical and economic aspects of the connection between Belgium and the energy island. The analysis will include an exploration of possible EU co-financing in order to realize the vision of the energy island and thereby contribute to the EU’s offshore ambition of 300 GW capacity by 2050, half of which is expected to be established in the North Sea.
Facts
- The Energy Island will constitute a hub initially designed for 3 GW of offshore wind.
- It is expected that the offshore wind-capacity connected to the Energy Island will expand to 10 GW where it will be possible to connect the Energy Island to additional countries.
- The energy island serves as a hub for electricity generation for surrounding offshore wind farms, by collecting and distributing the electricity between countries connected by an electricity grid.
- This Memorandum of Agreement further elaborates and expands the cooperation between Denmark and Belgium as set up in the Memorandum of Understanding from February 2021
- Denmark has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Netherlands and a Letter of Intent with Germany about the energy island in the North Sea.
- The partnership with Germany extends to the Baltic Sea, where Denmark intends to use the island of Bornholm as an independent energy island with at least 2 GW of offshore wind capacity.
Contact information
Press office of the Danish Ministry of Climate: +45 41 72 38 05
Press office of the Belgian Ministry of Energy: +32 473 62 65 48