The European Investment Bank has granted a 1 billion euro ($1.16 billion) credit facility to Elia Transmission Belgium to develop the second phase of the Princess Elisabeth energy island, it said on Monday.
The Princess Elisabeth project is an artificial island that will serve as an energy hub to allow development of new offshore wind capacity in Belgium and to enhance grid integration of existing and future generation capacity.
The EIB loan, which the bank said was the largest ever granted for energy infrastructure in the Benelux region, will be used to construct a high-voltage substation, transformers and grid connections to the mainland.
In 2024, the project's first phase secured an EIB credit line of 650 million euros.
The energy island is expected to reduce the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels and balance the power grid. It will connect the country's second offshore wind farm to the main electricity grid.
The island is expected to connect offshore wind capacity beginning in 2031, according to the statement.