The Princess Elisabeth Island

As the world’s first artificial energy island, the Princess Elisabeth Island is our flagship project. Located off the Belgian coast in the North Sea, the island will serve as an electricity hub that will bundle together the cables leading to wind farms in Belgium’s second offshore wind zone, helping to bring the electricity they generate back to shore. It will also act as an intermediate landing point for interconnectors that link Belgium to other European countries. Our teams have adopted a nature-inclusive design approach for the island: it has been designed in such a way that it will foster biodiversity and help marine life to flourish around it. 

The cornerstone of a future integrated electricity grid at sea

The island will:

  • be located 45 km off the Belgian coast in the middle of the Princess Elisabeth Zone - Belgium’s second offshore wind zone;
  • stretch across an area of 6 hectares;
  • have foundations, or caissons, built of concrete and filled with sand;
  • host a small harbour and helipad so maintenance crews can access it;
  • host both high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and alternating current (HVAC);
  • encourage a rich ecosystem to thrive around it, thanks to its nature-inclusive design. 

The island will therefore give Belgium access to offshore wind energy produced by wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth Zone: around 60 km of DC cables and 300 km of AC cables will be installed around it, bringing electricity back to the mainland. Moreover, given that it will serve as a landing point for interconnectors with other countries, it will allow Belgium to trade renewable energy with its neighbours and so enhance Europe’s interconnectedness.

 The island will form the cornerstone of Europe’s future integrated offshore grid. Access to offshore renewable energy is seen as the foundation of the EU’s move to net zero. Connecting countries together via an offshore grid made up of hybrid interconnectors and energy hubs will allow the EU to secure its energy independence, facilitate its security of supply, and help it to become the first climate-neutral continent in the world.

Nature-inclusive design

We have adopted an innovative approach to the Princess Elisabeth Island, known as ‘nature-inclusive design’. We have been working with nature conservation experts and scientists to ensure that the way the island is designed has a positive impact on biodiversity and helps marine life to flourish. This means that both the island’s design and its function will be contributing to meeting the EU’s climate and biodiversity targets.


  • Schedule
  • texteIn the interest of society
  • environnementEnvironment
  • texteOffshore infrastructure
  • texteSupport from the European Recovery Fund
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News

19 June 2024

Elia Transmission Belgium concludes HVAC cable and substation contracts for Princess Elisabeth Island

23 April 2024

Government delegation highlights Belgium's pioneering role and expertise in offshore wind during visit to impressive caisson construction site for Princess Elisabeth Island

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investments Thomas Dermine have visited the site in Vlissingen where caissons are being constructed for Princess Elisabeth Island.

13 November 2023

Elia takes seven tangible measures to enhance biodiversity around the Princess Elisabeth Island

System operator Elia wants to boost biodiversity around the future energy island in the North Sea.


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