The federal government has approved a draft Royal Decree amending the regulatory framework for the tender procedure relating to the first plot of the Princess Elisabeth Zone (PEZ1), Belgium’s future offshore wind zone in the North Sea. This revision follows the suspension of the previous procedure in 2025, due to several legal, technical and financial uncertainties. Its objective is to strengthen the regulatory framework before relaunching this strategic project.
The new framework aims to establish a more robust, simpler and more market-oriented procedure. The main changes include the removal of the maximum strike price, the introduction of a support mechanism based on a two-sided Contract for Difference (CfD), the extension of the maximum construction period from four to five years, and the integration of the requirements arising from the European Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
Citizen participation is also evolving. It will no longer constitute a mandatory eligibility or award criterion, although candidates will remain free to involve citizens or cooperatives in their projects. This amendment aims to simplify the procedure and limit additional costs.
The future tender procedure will also include requirements relating to supply chain resilience, in line with the European NZIA framework. In particular, it will introduce restrictions concerning certain Chinese wind technologies, with a view to strengthening European industrial autonomy and the security of strategic energy infrastructure.
From a legal perspective, the relaunch of PEZ1 is a matter that deserves close attention. Projects of this scale, combining strategic infrastructure and public support mechanisms, raise complex issues in the fields of public procurement, State aid and procedural legal certainty. At Tender Law, we closely monitor these developments, relying on our experience in public procurement and State aid law. The future Royal Decree governing the tender procedure will be a key element in ensuring the legal robustness of the framework.
The next steps will be decisive. The draft Royal Decree must still be submitted for advice to the Council of State and notified to the European Commission under the applicable State aid rules. Once these steps have been completed and the Royal Decree has been formally adopted, the tender procedure for PEZ1 can be relaunched.
According to the announced timeline, candidates would then have several months to submit their bids, with the successful bidder expected to be selected before the end of 2027. The selected developer would then have a maximum period of five years to design, finance and construct the wind farm, which is currently expected to become operational in 2032.
Overall, this development appears positive. Strengthening the legal framework before relaunching a procedure involving multi-billion-euro investments is a prudent approach. For projects of this magnitude, rushed procedures could indeed lead to litigation, resulting in delays and additional costs, to the detriment of both investors and the public interest.
Located close to the North Sea, in the port city of Bruges, our firm naturally follows developments in Belgian offshore wind with particular attention. The Princess Elisabeth Zone represents a strategic project for Belgium’s energy transition, and a clear and stable legal framework will be essential to turn this ambition into reality.