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Wind Power News: Belgium
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Flanders introduces distance rules for large wind turbines
Flemish environment minister Jo Brouns is introducing distance rules for large wind turbines higher than 200 metres, reported Het Laatste Nieuws. Flanders already had rules around noise and cast shadow, but not for distance. Flemish environment minister Jo Brouns refused a permit for a wind turbine for the first time because the distance from habitation was too small. One of the four planned 266.5-metre wind turbines that Engie and Katoen Natie want to build in the Ghent canal zone . . . Complete story »
40 miljoen liter dieselverbruik voor onderhoud windmolenpark op Thorntonbank
[Maintenance of the Thornton Bank wind turbines uses an estimated 6.6 million litres of diesel fuel annually: 40 million litres since they began operation. In addition, the oil is changed every three to seven years. A wind turbine at sea contains approximately 2000 litres of ‘gear oil’ and 500 litres of hydraulic oil. There are also models with a total of between 1200 and 1500 litres of oil.] Terwijl wij straks verplicht met een dure elektrische wagen moeten rijden, verstoken . . . Complete story »
Belgium objects to 600MW Dunkirk offshore project
The Belgian government has formally objected to EDF Renewables and Enbridge’s 600MW Dunkirk wind farm off north-east France. Belgium’s North Sea and Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (pictured) has lodged opposition to the scheme during the public debate on the project, which started last month and runs to June. The country and several local authorities have opposed the location of the project, which runs close to the sea border with Belgium, since 2016, including legal actions and filing complaints with . . . Complete story »
Pressure mounts against French wind farm project near Belgian coast
De Panne, Koksijde and Nieuwpoort are the latest communes on the Belgian coast to oppose a French government project to build an offshore wind farm near Dunkirk. The proposal includes turbines almost as high as the Eiffel Tower: 300 metres above sea level (the Paris icon is 330m). The French government plans to build the 50 km2 park of 46 wind turbines 10km off the Dunkirk coastline, 11.4km from the Belgian seaside resorts opposing the project. The farm should produce . . . Complete story »
Pale d’une éolienne pliée en deux à Feluy
[In Feluy, Hainaut, a blade from a wind turbine was bent in two this Thursday. The device continued to operate for a while before being stopped. Debris fell in the field.] Scène insolite à Feluy, dans le Hainaut. Une pale d’une éolienne s’est retrouvée pliée en deux ce jeudi. Des débris sont également tombés dans le champ. L’exploitant Elawan Energy indique qu’il s’agit d’un “incident rare”. Selon la société Elawan Energy, citée par la RTBF, la pale s’est pliée vers . . . Complete story »
Number of complaints about wind turbines in Flanders highest in seven years
There were 66 complaints about nuisance caused by wind turbines in Flanders in 2023, the highest number of complaints in the last seven years. This is according to figures released by Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir, of Flemish nationalists N-VA. “These complaints are also a result of Demir’s policy,” said Flemish MP Johan Deckmyn, of far-right party Vlaams Belang, who asked for the figures. “There is an urgent need for designated planning areas for wind turbines.” There were 51 complaints . . . Complete story »
Homme décédé après une chute chez un fabricant d’éoliennes à Hoboken
Un homme a perdu la vie à la suite d’un accident du travail mardi chez un fabricant d’éoliennes à Hoboken. L’auditorat du travail d’Anvers a confirmé l’accident. La victime est un homme de 53 ans qui a fait une chute de 10 à 15 mètres. Les pompiers et les services médicaux d’urgence sont arrivés immédiatement sur les lieux après l’accident, mais la victime est décédée sur place. L’auditorat du travail a lancé une enquête pour déterminer les circonstances exactes de . . . Complete story »
Des riverains mobilisés contre le nouveau projet d’éoliennes à Spiennes: «Il y en a déjà trop dans la zone!»
[Neighbors mobilize against new wind project in Spiennes: “There are already too many in the area!”»] Depuis plusieurs années, la société Luminus veut implanter quatre éoliennes à Spiennes, près de la chaussée de Beaumont. Ingénieur chimiste, Jean-Philippe Pingot a adressé une série de remarques au collège dans le cadre de l’enquête publique. L’installation d’éoliennes entraînera une dévalorisation des habitations proches, regrettent les riverains. Comme d’autres riverains, Jean-Philippe Pingot, domicilié dans la rue Gontran Bachy (soit à près d’un kilomètre de . . . Complete story »
Ohey dit “non” au projet éolien de Coutisse
[Five arguments were put forward by the Municipal College: the potential consequences on the health and well-being of residents close to the project (infrasound, noise pollution, stress and stress-related illnesses); the negative and irremediable impact on the preservation of the the Condroz landscape; the fact that the plot on which the project would be located is crossed by several flooding and runoff paths; the potential wind project is located outside the agricultural zone; and the negative impact that the placement . . . Complete story »
Les éoliennes risquent de se multiplier dans le ciel estinnois à l’avenir : “Nous rejetons tous les projets mais …”
[Wind projects in and around Estinnes are multiplying to the detriment of municipal authorities and citizens who no longer want them – but who are almost powerless before the regional authorities.] Les projets éoliens dans et autour d’Estinnes se multiplient au détriment des autorités communales et des citoyens qui n’en veulent plus mais qui sont quasi-impuissants devant les autorités régionales. Depuis la mise en service des éoliennes de Fauroeulx il y a une dizaine d’années qui était à l’époque un des . . . Complete story »
