Tienen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Tienen residents protest two 188-meter wind turbines at Soldatenplein. Renner Energies applied; Mayor Jonathan Holslag and an action committee urge objections. Public consultation will end on December 9, 2025.
As VRT News reported, Tienen is facing growing protests over plans to build 2 large wind turbines near Oplinter. The turbines are proposed for Soldatenplein, between the industrial areas of Tienen and Oplinter.
Mayor Jonathan Holslag (Durf) confirmed on Facebook that Renner Energies, a company experienced in building wind turbines in Belgium, has applied for a permit. The plans have sparked debate in the community over the turbines’ effects on the local area.
What impact will 2 Renner Energies turbines have in Tienen?
The city has launched a public consultation for residents to share their views. Comments and objections can be submitted until December 9th, 2025. Authorities will review public feedback before making a final decision.
Supporters say the turbines will provide clean energy. Opponents fear the project could harm the local environment and disrupt daily life. Mayor Holslag urged people to participate and submit their opinions.
“The wind turbines have a tip height of no less than 188 meters. They will be located in an agricultural area, in an open landscape. The visual pollution will be enormous,”
says Jan Damps of the action committee.
Residents near the planned wind turbines in Tienen have raised concerns about the project’s impact on homes and farmland. Preliminary studies show that many houses could experience shadow flicker, caused by the rotating blades. Each turbine will need a 50-meter-diameter foundation and 60 deep piles in the ground.
Experts warn that this will affect the soil. Farmers fear they may no longer be able to grow crops on the land near the turbines. The project has sparked debate over its effects on daily life and the local environment.
Mayor Jonathan Holslag is also unenthusiastic:
“We informed the company that two large turbines in a rural area weren’t a good idea. But because our businesses do have a significant need for electricity, we informally suggested that a single, smaller turbine on the edge of the industrial estate might be feasible. But Renners didn’t consider that.”
An action committee has formed to organise opposition to the turbines. The group is collecting objections from residents and other stakeholders.
“The city has only an advisory vote on this permit. Ultimately, the Flemish government, in this case Minister Jo Brouns, will decide in February,”
Holslag concludes.
Renner Energies, formerly called Windvision, has been building wind turbines since 2002. The company changed its name to Renner Energies in June 2023 as it expanded into solar energy and energy storage. It has completed more than 80 renewable energy projects in Belgium, France, and Spain.
One of its first major projects was the Estinnes wind park, completed in 2010, which featured 11 turbines and supplied electricity to nearly 48,500 homes. More recently, in 2025, the company installed two turbines at the Tongeren-Oost industrial site, producing around 17,000 MWh per year and reducing approximately 6,800 tons of CO₂ emissions. Renner Energies has built a reputation for large-scale renewable energy projects across the region.
