Delay in Contract Issuance for Farm Site in Princess Elisabeth Region of Belgium Pushed to 2026
The tender for the 700 MW offshore wind farm in the Princess Elisabeth Zone I has been postponed from 2025 to 2026, resulting in a delay of over a year. Initially, bidding was planned between July 25 and August 24, 2025, but the Belgian federal government halted the tender process due to increased costs and budgetary risks associated with the project.
The Princess Elisabeth Zone, located off the Belgian coast, is set to host up to 3.5 GW of new offshore wind farms, connecting to the infrastructure of the Princess Elisabeth Island. The island, under development, is the world's first artificial energy island.
The tender process for the first of three lots in the Princess Elisabeth Zone was launched in November 2024. Several risks were associated with the initial tender, including major legal uncertainties, an unrealistic calendar, and a vague financial framework.
A company named Ocean Winds, formed through a strategic partnership with Eneco and Otary in July 2024, announced its participation in the tender for the offshore wind farm.
The site for the wind farm, covering 46 square kilometres, is located within the Princess Elisabeth Zone. The farm has a potential generation capacity of 700 MW, as previously mentioned.
The first two of 23 caissons for the artificial energy island were submerged at their final location in April 2025, marking a significant step in the construction process. However, the tender for the wind farm has been postponed, allowing the Belgian Council of Ministers to reassess the financial aspects and ensure a stable and viable tender.
Mathieu Bihet, Federal Minister of Energy, stated that the issues with the tender were the primary reason for the postponement. The new tender for the same project is planned to be launched by the end of the first quarter of 2026. The winner of the original tender, which was expected to be announced in December 2025, will now be determined in 2026.
The construction of the artificial energy island, some 45 kilometers off the Belgian coast, has already begun, signifying a promising future for renewable energy in the region. The postponement of the tender for the offshore wind farm is a temporary setback, but it allows for a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to the project.
[1] Delay in Tender for Offshore Wind Farm in Princess Elisabeth Zone, Belgian Federal Government Announces (2025), [online] Available at:
[3] Bihet, M. (2025) Speech on Offshore Wind Farm Tender Postponement, [online] Available at:
The postponement of the tender for the offshore wind farm in the Princess Elisabeth Zone provides an opportunity for the Belgian Council of Ministers to reassess the financial aspects and ensure a stable and viable tender for the renewable-energy industry. The new tender, scheduled for the end of the first quarter of 2026, will likely attract finance from various sources to support the expansion of energy generation from offshore wind farms.
