Belgian materials technology and recycling group Umicore will buy electricity generated by 28 MW of offshore wind capacity at Engie’s offshore wind farm in the Belgian sector of the North Sea.
Umicore informed on the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Engie on 3 February. Under the agreement, Engie will be providing Umicore with around 100 GWh of renewable electricity per year until 2030.
The offshore wind power will mainly serve Umicore’s plant in Hoboken, one of the world’s largest precious metals recycling facilities, and the site in Olen, which houses various activities as well as Umicore’s Research & Development headquarters, according to information in the company’s press release.
“ Thanks to a large, diversified and growing portfolio of renewable energy production in Belgium and abroad, ENGIE is able to provide its customers with local, carbon-free energy over many years. We are particularly proud that, after having entered into a long-term PPA for a Umicore plant in Poland a few months ago and having already provided the company with onsite renewable energy solutions in Belgium such as wind, solar and battery installations, ENGIE is now further supporting its historical customer in reaching carbon neutrality in Belgium ”, said Thierry Saegeman , Country Manager of ENGIE in Belgium.
In the Belgian North Sea, Engie holds stake in the 487 MW SeaMade offshore wind farm as a partner in the Otary consortium.
The offshore wind farm consists of two concession zones, Seastar and Mermaid, and has been fully operational since end of 2020, but was officially inaugurated on in October 2021.
The project comprises 58 Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW wind turbines, all of which were installed by the beginning of December 2020, making SeaMade Belgium’s largest offshore wind farm.