Rentel plugging in

After a competitive European selection process with extensive negotiations, STX France SA was awarded the OSS Contract. It is the first major contract being signed by Rentel NV, setting a decisive step towards the realisation of a new Belgian offshore wind farm of 309 MW, located at +/- 32 km off the Belgian coast. Contracts for WTG supply and installation, foundations and cables are set to be finalised shortly.

The Rentel offshore wind farm will be the fourth offshore wind project in the Belgian North Sea with a total installed capacity of 309MW. The estimated annual production of more than 1 GWh corresponds to the annual consumption of 288,000 households. Rentel has chosen Siemens as its preferred bidder for the supply and installation of 42 offshore wind turbines generators.

Rentel is set to complete its project financing fundraising by the summer 2016 for an amount of 1,250 million euros, with the construction works starting shortly thereafter. The first wind turbines will supply green power from 2018, and become fully operational by the end of 2018.

Rentel NV is part of the Otary partnership, equally uniting various Belgian specialists in renewable energy including investment and development companies Rent-A-Port and Power @ Sea, dredging and marine engineering specialist DEME and green energy players Aspiravi and Elicio. Furthermore, the Walloon environmental holding SRIW Environnement, and the Flemish and Walloon energy and utility holding companies Z-Kracht/Nuhma and Socofe are also shareholders of the company.

Next to the Rentel concession, Otary also holds the concession for construction of the future Seastar offshore wind farm and is part of the consortium developing the Mermaid offshore windfarm.

By Jake Frith