Huldenberg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The residents of Huldenberg stand against two proposed wind turbines from Luminus, which aim to provide electricity to GlaxoSmithKline from Waver municipality.
Luminus, an electricity producer, aims to establish two wind turbines in the Waver-Noord industrial park situated on the border with Huldenberg. These turbines will be directly connected to GlaxoSmithKline’s network, providing a substantial amount of green energy. Mayor Danny Vangoidtsenhoven of Huldenberg emphasised the need for consultation with Waver’s leadership to assess the implications for local residents.
“At the moment, 2 locations have been designated for the construction of the wind turbines,”
He stated, highlighting that while the sites are located in Waver, their proximity to Ottenburg necessitates discussions about potential impacts on Huldenberg’s community.
“Of course on Wavre territory, but still towards Ottenburg, Huldenberg. That is why I am asking for a consultation with my Wavre colleague to see what the possible impact could be for us”
He said.
The planned turbines both reach tall heights and possess considerable generating power, thus creating further questions for consideration. The Bevekom military airport needs to approve these turbines because their elevated height will affect air traffic.
A public information session hosted previously drew about fifty Ottenburg inhabitants who showed their concerns about upcoming environmental and lifestyle impacts.
According to the mayor, the military airport of Bevekom also has to give the green light.
“Because these are wind turbines 250 meters high, they could possibly be an obstacle for local air traffic. In Huldenberg, wind turbines are not even allowed because we are too close to the airports of Zaventem and Bevekom.”
What is the current state of wind energy in Belgium?
Belgium utilises wind energy as its fundamental method to develop sustainable energy production programs. Luminus operates as a leading company dedicated to a major expansion of its renewable energy infrastructure. Termed operations of 273 wind turbines across onshore locations, the company now seeks to reach more than 700 megawatts by the end of 2023. The Belgian government continues to boost renewable energy because it helps achieve national climate targets.
The wind farming operations of Luminus produce 1,300 GWh of clean energy per year, which can supply electricity to an estimated 370,000 Belgian households. Such projects gain significance because Belgium has made a commitment to both lower carbon emissions and implement greener energy systems. Belgium intends to reach a minimum target of 13% renewable energy as a fraction of its entire energy consumption by 2025.
