Highest Onshore Wind Turbine in the Country Located in Ghent
Energy producer ENGIE has reached a new milestone with the construction of Belgium’s highest onshore wind turbine at North Sea Port in Ghent. This impressive wind turbine, standing at 247 meters tall with a capacity of 6.2 megawatts, surpasses the previous record of 238 meters in the same port area. Sweco was responsible for the permit application, the detailed design of the foundation and infrastructure, and the technical report.
Mercatordok Ghent © ENGIE
The wind turbine in the Ghent seaport is the tallest on the Belgian mainland, with a tip height of 247 meters. For comparison, this is twice as high as the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp. Taller wind turbines also effectively capture more wind. By reaching greater heights, larger blades of over 80 meters can be installed. This results in greater potential energy production.
Green Energy Production Reaches New Heights
With an annual production of approximately 17 million kWh, the new wind turbine contributes to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. It is estimated that over 6,000 tons of CO2 will be saved annually. With a capacity of 6.2 megawatts (MW), this turbine can provide green energy to about 5,000 households. ENGIE aims to achieve 1,000 MW of onshore wind energy in Belgium by 2030, a significant increase from the current 600 MW.
Wind Energy in Prime Zone
The new wind turbine is located at the Mercator Dock, on the premises of logistics service provider DFDS, one of the largest integrated shipping and logistics companies in Northern Europe. This port location is ideal for wind energy due to the available space and proximity to large industrial consumers. The turbine is currently mechanically ready. After the installation of control systems and cabling, it will be operational by the end of January 2025.
