The Belgian power transmission system operator (TSO) Elia Transmission Belgium has signed a EUR1bn credit facility from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for second phase of Princess Elisabeth artificial energy island in the Belgian North Sea (Elia press release, 07/09/2026).
Located some 45 km off the Belgian coast, the island will act as an energy hub to better connect existing and new offshore wind power to the Belgian grid, and will enable future interconnections with neighbouring countries, including the United Kingdom. The project is expected to be operational from 2031, when the first offshore wind parks in the Princess Elisabeth Zone will begin connecting to the island's transmission infrastructure.
The funding will cover, among other things, the high-voltage (220 kV) substation on the island, the 66 kV switching stations, the transformers and the alternating current (AC) connections to the mainland. Electricity transport from the island to the shore will happen via 6 three-phase alternating current 220 kV cables between the energy island and the onshore 220 kV substation.