Princess Elisabeth Island: The World’s First Energy Island

20 June 2024,

The HSI Joint Venture, a collaboration between HSM Offshore Energy, Smulders, and Iv, has been awarded the prestigious contract to design and build high voltage AC substations for the Modular Offshore Grid 2 (MOG2) project on Princess Elisabeth Island, the world’s first artificial energy island. This landmark project, spearheaded by transmission system operator Elia, marks a significant step forward in renewable energy innovation and infrastructure.

The EPCIC contract (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Commissioning) involves the creation of four high voltage AC substations with impressive capacities of 2 x 1050 megawatts and 2 x 700 megawatts. Additionally, the project will include a facility module and a garage. Engineering efforts, including the development of a comprehensive layout and 3D model of the MOG2 Transmission Assets, will be undertaken at Iv’s office in Papendrecht.

Prefabrication work will be carried out at Smulders’ Belgian branches and HSM’s Schiedam facilities. Final assembly of the modules is scheduled to take place at the HSM Offshore Energy yard in Schiedam and the Smulders yard in Vlissingen, ensuring seamless integration and high-quality construction standards.

Princess Elisabeth Island is set to become the world’s first artificial energy island combining both high voltage direct current (HVDC) and high voltage alternating current (HVAC) systems. This groundbreaking high-voltage infrastructure will consolidate export cables from wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth zone and serve as a crucial hub for future interconnectors with neighboring countries. The island’s design is also nature-inclusive, promoting biodiversity around its vicinity, demonstrating a harmonious balance between technological advancement and environmental stewardship.

Strategically located approximately 45 kilometers off the Belgian coast, Princess Elisabeth Island will span about 12 hectares above the waterline, with 6 hectares dedicated to electrical infrastructure. This innovative project is vital in linking Belgium’s future offshore wind farms to the national grid, bolstering the country’s commitment to enhancing its renewable energy capacity.

Construction of the substations is slated to commence in May 2025, with installation on the island planned from 2027. The entire construction phase is expected to be completed by Q1 2029. Elia aims to have the installations ready to receive the first offshore parks by 2030, paving the way for a sustainable and energy-efficient future.