Sweco Belgium
New high voltage substations for a more robust electricity grid
Sweco has been appointed by the Jan De Nul – SPIE construction team to deliver the detailed engineering in the EPC contract for new 380 kV infrastructure. In the Port of Ghent, construction of the Baekeland high‑voltage substation (380/150 kV) has officially started; Gezelle (Bruges) is an existing 380 kV node in the coastal inland backbone. Together, they strengthen the backbone of grid operator Elia’s transmission network, enable larger volumes of renewable energy and support industrial electrification in line with the European Fit for 55 objectives.
Tom Lauwaert, Team Manager High Voltage at Sweco: “With Baekeland and Gezelle, we are studying two critical links of the Belgian electricity grid. We combine civil, high‑voltage and protection expertise to realise a future‑proof grid capable of handling peak currents and increasing industrial demand. The port regions of Ghent and Bruges are undergoing a profound transition. Direct 380 kV connections are essential to make electrification, shore power and large‑scale electrical processes possible.”
Strategic high‑voltage capacity for Ghent and Bruges
The Baekeland substation is being built on a 15‑hectare site along the R4 East in the Port of Ghent. Its location—between coastal and offshore wind production areas and the major industrial clusters in Ghent and Antwerp—makes it a strategic node in Belgium’s electricity supply. The project foresees a phased commissioning by 2030 and includes three 380 kV hybrid substations (air‑ and gas‑insulated technology), two 150 kV substations, four phase‑shifting transformers and seven buildings, with a 10‑metre green buffer surrounding the site.
Gezelle in Bruges is also an important hinge point within the 380 kV architecture. The station is part of Stevin, the double 380 kV connection between Zeebrugge and the inland grid with a transmission capacity of up to 3,000 MW (Stevin – Gezelle – Van Maerlant), bringing offshore wind energy inland.
Sweco secures integrated design and constructability within the EPC consortium
Within the EPC framework of the Jan De Nul – SPIE construction team, Sweco provides detailed engineering expertise and design coordination for the Baekeland project, closely aligned with the civil works (by Jan De Nul) and the electrical installations and telecommunications (by SPIE). The focus lies on integrated design and alignment of the 380/150 kV architecture, managing interfaces between civil and electrotechnical disciplines, and ensuring constructability towards phased commissioning.
Preparing the electricity grid for 2030
The hybrid Air Insulated Switchgear/Gas Insulated Switchgear architecture at Baekeland offers a balance of flexibility, footprint and reliability, while the phase‑shifting transformers contribute to precise control of energy flows and reduced congestion in a system with high levels of renewable generation.
Attention is also given to landscape and ecological integration, as well as phased commissioning to provide the region with additional capacity on time. In Ghent, the 150 kV capacity will increase significantly within the project framework, improving the robustness of the electricity supply for the port and industrial area.
Join the Transmission & Distribution hubs
Are you a (young) engineer or high‑voltage specialist who wants to work on high‑end 380 kV projects with a direct impact on the energy transition? You will collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment with experts in high voltage, civil engineering, protection and construction, develop through mentoring and training, and contribute to infrastructure essential for energy security and competitiveness.
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