First steel cut Princess Elisabeth Island
A new milestone has been reached in the development of Belgium’s offshore energy hub. On 19 June 2025, the construction of the high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) infrastructure officially began with a first steel cut ceremony at the HSM Offshore Energy yard in Schiedam (the Netherlands). The HVAC modules, which include high-voltage substations and a facility module, will be directly installed onto the Princess Elisabeth offshore energy hub. Located 45 km off the Belgian coast, the artificial island will serve as a key connection point for transporting at least 2.1 GW of offshore wind energy generated in the Princess Elisabeth Zone to the mainland.
The HVAC substations will house essential components such as power transformers and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), forming the backbone of the island’s AC transmission infrastructure. The modules are being built by HSI Pemac, a Belgian-Dutch consortium comprising HSM Offshore Energy, Smulders, and Iv. The consortium was awarded the engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) contract by Elia, Belgium’s national transmission system operator, which is part of Elia Group. Engineering works, including the layout and a detailed 3D model, are being carried out at Iv’s office in Papendrecht (NL). The prefabrication process is taking place at Smulders’ Belgian facilities and HSM’s Schiedam yard, with the final assembly occurring in Schiedam and Vlissingen.
“The start of the construction of the island’s HVAC infrastructure shows that the project is progressing steadily, even as we adapt its next phase in line with new market realities. The Belgian government’s recent decision to develop an alternative approach for the HVDC components will ensure that we can maintain the strategic ambition of the project in a more cost-effective way. Along with our partners and the authorities, Elia remains fully committed to delivering Belgium’s offshore energy hub that will strengthen our country’s future electricity supply and support Europe’s energy transition.” – Frederic Dunon, CEO of Elia Transmission Belgium
Princess Elisabeth offshore energy hub will be the world’s first artificial energy island. As part of its first phase of operation, it will collect electricity from two new wind farms located in Belgium’s second offshore wind zone and enable the integration of this energy into the country’s onshore grid. The island will strengthen Belgium’s long-term electricity supply and accelerate the integration of renewable energy into the European grid.
Fedor, managing director Offshore & Energy and also COO of Iv, would be delighted to discuss this with you! Get in touch via +31 88 943 3300 or send a message.
