Belgian government approves revised framework for offshore wind

Following the cancellation of the original tender procedure in 2025, development of the first new offshore wind farm in the Princess Elisabeth Zone was temporarily halted. The federal government has now approved an adjusted tender framework intended to provide greater legal certainty, stimulate investment, and strengthen competition among prospective developers.

For companies, the increased predictability is particularly important. The maximum construction period is extended from four to five years, the support mechanism is simplified through a single uniform Contract for Difference (CfD), and the price cap is removed. According to the government, this should lead to more competitive bids and greater investment certainty for project developers and their suppliers.

The relaunch of PEZ 1 means that preparations for a new tender are getting underway again. This creates prospects for companies active in, among others, offshore engineering, maritime services, cable and grid infrastructure, foundations, logistics, maintenance, and monitoring.

The introduction of new criteria concerning cybersecurity, sustainability, and the resilience of European supply chains may also create opportunities for European technology companies and suppliers. For the first time, the tender is explicitly aligned with the European Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), through which Europe aims to build greater strategic autonomy in the energy industry.

In addition to the adjusted tender framework, the federal government has also set the final date by which the first phase of the energy island must be operational: 1 October 2031.  

This energy island forms the link between the new offshore wind farms and the onshore electricity grid. The government has chosen to develop the grid infrastructure and the tender procedure in parallel, so that the expansion of additional offshore capacity is not unnecessarily delayed.

The amended royal decree will now be submitted to the Council of State and notified to the European Commission in the context of state aid rules. Once these procedures have been completed, the tender for PEZ 1 can be relaunched on the market.

With the relaunch of the dossier, the federal government aims to keep Belgium on track for further growth of offshore wind energy in the North Sea. For companies, this once again provides visibility on future investments, collaboration opportunities, and innovation prospects within the offshore energy sector.