The two companies Engie and Renewi held an inauguration ceremony for Belgium's tallest onshore windmill Tuesday morning at 09:30. The windmill is installed at the North Sea Port in Ghent.
The tip of the windmill is 238.5 metres and its rotor diameter is 139 metres. The windmill will produce 139,000 MWh per year – enough for 4,000 households.
In addition, the new windmill is located on the site of the recycling company Renewi and will provide approximately 75% of the plant's local electricity consumption, Engie reports. This represents annual savings of around 5,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Engie is Belgium's leader in low-carbon energy and services and already operates around 200 wind turbines at locations across Belgium. It highlights the benefits of a larger structure: "Thanks to the large size of the turbine, the energy potential is maximised and Renewi can satisfy a large part of its local energy needs with green electricity on-site," said Thierry Saegeman, CEO of Engie.
"This turbine provides Renewi with a sustainable solution tailored to its innovative and future-oriented Ghent location."
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At the inauguration, Renewi announced a new state-of-the-art sorting line that will recycle up to 125,000 tonnes of raw materials from industrial waste. It will feature artificial intelligence and infrared technology to advance the sorting process.
The extensive port serves as a distribution hub for goods that pass across Europe and even to China. It strives for sustainable economic activity and has often sought partnerships that will improve its environmental credentials.
The new windmill is the result of 20 years of innovation and advancements in technology. The current geopolitical and economic context confirms the importance of transitioning to strong, carbon-neutral energy systems, says Saegeman.
