French authorities will conduct a public inquiry into an application for an offshore wind farm near Dunkirk, in the far north of France. The proposed project has some under extensive criticism from the Belgian side.
The inquiry (8 April to 18 May) will consider concerns raised by the port of Ostend that the installation could disrupt shipping routes between Belgium and the United Kingdom. On April 2022, former federal minister for the North sea Vincent Van Quickenborne filed a complaint with the EU Commission.
French energy firm Eoliennes en Mer de Dunkerque (EMD) and Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) plan to build the wind farm 10 kilometres off the coast and 11.4 kilometres from Belgian seaside towns. The proposed development consists of 46 wind turbines measuring between 240 and 300 metres, reports EMD.
The 600 MW farm will have an annual production capacity of around 2.3 TWh – approximately sufficient for 950,000 households (around one-third of the département's population). The park should be operational for 30 years (from 2028) and construction and connection to the grid will cost €1.4 billion.
Wind farm implementation (green); location of the electrical connection (purple); perimeter of the public inquiry (orange). Credit: Eoliennes en Mer de Dunkerque (EMD)
Critics from Belgium
The project received significant backlash from Belgium with mayors of La Panne, Coxyde and Nieuport displeased about the visual mark the structures will leave on the landscape. Moreover, various maritime routes between Ostend Port and the UK risk being impacted.
Belgium's Federal Government has contested the proposal on the recommendation of former North Sea Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne. But last year, the French Council of State ruled against the Belgian authorities.
The public inquiry commences on Monday 8 April. Feedback from Belgium will also be taken into consideration with both sides given the opportunity to make comments, present objections or even make recommendations.
Related News
- Offshore wind farms return €190 million in excess profits to government
- Offshore wind power back making strides in Europe
The current North Sea Minister Paul Van Tigchelt encourages "anyone likely to be affected by the park to take part in the public enquiry". He pledged that "the Federal Government will do everything possible to protect the rights of local residents, Ostend Port, and other stakeholders".
The minister said that the Federal Government itself has sought an alternative which would see the turbines moved five kilometres further out to sea. Van Tigchelt believes this proposal would "eliminate almost all objections".
