Belgium's Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten, and German State Secretary, Philipp Nimmermann, have signed a declaration of intent to explore the development of a hybrid interconnection between the offshore wind farms of both countries.
This joint initiative aims to leverage the significant renewable energy potential in their respective waters, contributing to the establishment of an integrated offshore wind network across the entire North Sea basin.
The proposed interconnector would complement the ALEGrO interconnection, the first direct electrical connection between Belgium and Germany, operational since 2020, with a follow-up project already in progress.
Both Belgium and Germany have set ambitious targets for offshore wind energy. Belgium aims to achieve a capacity of 6GW by 2030 and 8GW by 2040, while Germany is targeting at least 30GW by 2030 and 70GW by 2045.
By collaborating on this endeavor, Belgium and Germany seek to drive innovation and progress in renewable energy while minimizing the costs associated with the energy transition and strengthening resilient and secure industrial value chains.
To maximize the renewable energy potential of the North Sea, the ministers have directed Belgian and German grid operators to explore the feasibility of the hybrid interconnection project. This exploration may involve engaging other countries and grid operators in the evaluation process.
Regular discussions will be held among the involved administrations and the Belgian and German Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to track progress. A final report will be submitted to the ministers during the upcoming North Sea Summit, detailing the project's costs, benefits, potential schedule, and any challenges that need to be addressed.
