Belgium challenges EDF, Enbridge’s 600-MW wind project off France

The Belgian government has lodged an objection against the proposed location of the planned 600-MW Dunkirk offshore wind farm in French waters as part of the public consultation process launched for the project.

The formal position is based on the opinion of various state and regional authorities and interested third parties. It was signed by the Belgian minister for justice and the North Sea Paul Van Tigchelt.

The Kingdom of Belgium requires the public inquiry commission to issue a negative opinion on the project as proposed and deny the permitting request. Should a positive ruling be made, Belgium insists that its objections be taken into account.

The document protests that the French state has unilaterally determined the location of the offshore wind park, planned near the Franco-Belgian maritime border, about 11 kilometres (6.83 mi) off the coast. Belgium has been opposing the construction of a wind farm at this location since 2016.

The location has also been questioned by other authorities, including the European Commission (EC), which in a 2022 opinion noted France's non-compliance with directives on the conservation of natural habitats, wild fauna, flora and wild birds.

In the document dated May 24 and published on the project consultation website on Monday, Belgium asserts that the project will have adverse cross-border effects, including pollution of the Belgian coast, damage to the marine environment in the Belgian part of the North Sea, and particularly the Belgian Natura 2000 zone. The project is also anticipated to impact sea rescue operations, create obstacles for aeronautical navigation and maritime traffic and harm fishing activities, among others.

The Dunkirk offshore wind project was awarded by the French government in June 2019 to the Eoliennes en mer de Dunkerque (EMD) consortium comprising EDF Renewables, Innogy SE, which was acquired by Germany’s RWE, and Enbridge Inc. The site will be equipped with 46 turbines of 300 metres height.

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