Belgium Offshore Wind Tender Amendment And Ventilus Permit Push

Following the decision of the Minister of Energy, Mathieu Bihet, to postpone the tendering procedure for Plot I in the Princess Elisabeth Zone, the Royal Decree of 3 June 2024, establishing the framework for awarding offshore wind concessions in that zone, is set to be amended.

Policy context and tender reform objectives

The proposed reforms to the tender system aim to inter alia place greater emphasis on price competitiveness and introduce other strategic criteria, such as cybersecurity requirements and “buy European” considerations.

In parallel, following the very recent decision of Jo Brouns to grant the permit for the Ventilus project, the development of the Princess Elisabeth Zone appears to have regained prominence on the policy agenda.