Belgium is the only European country at risk of missing its self-imposed offshore wind energy target by 2030. The country does not have enough space in the North Sea and the construction of additional wind turbines threatens protected nature reserves, according to a new study by the WWF on Thursday.

In 2020, the European Commission launched a plan to build a total of 60 gigawatts (GW) of wind farms by 2030. Since then, member states have pledged to build between 111 and 116 GW of offshore wind. It takes about 100 offshore wind turbines to generate one GW of electricity.

The fact that European countries have pledged more wind turbines than Europe needs is good news, says WWF. But data analysed by the organisation shows that of the ten European countries that have set an offshore wind target, only Belgium is in danger of missing it.

By 2030, Belgium has pledged to build some 6 GW of offshore wind turbines. Of the 3,454 square kilometres of the North Sea it is allowed to use for economic purposes, 15.1 per cent has been reserved for those wind farms. However, meeting the 6 GW target will require no less than 24.82 per cent of the total available space, according to WWF.

Disturbing marine life

The country’s lack of planning also has an impact on marine life, says WWF. Belgium and Germany are the only countries that already have placed wind farms in protected nature reserves in the North Sea. WWF says it will be a challenge to meet the Belgian target without disturbing even more protected nature areas.

Energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten maintains that Belgium will reach the targeted 6 GW by 2030. Wind turbines will be placed close enough to each other to maximise the use of existing zones, and other renewable technology, such as floating solar panels, could be deployed in the future as well. The minister further calls for an expansion of the reserved North Sea area.