Diamond Offshore Wind Holdings, part of Mitsubishi Corporation, Eneco Wind Belgium and Elnu NV have notified the European Commission of their intent to acquire a joint control over Norther NV, the developer and operator of the 370MW Norther offshore wind farm in Belgian North Sea.
Eneco Wind Belgium is a 100% subsidiary of Eneco Holding, and Elnu is a 100% subsidiary of Elicio. Eneco and Elicio currently each control a 50% stake in Norther NV.
Diamond Offshore Wind Holdings is a vehicle set up by Diamond Generating Europe Limited, a 100% subsidiary of Mitsibushi Corporation.
The European Commission has set a provisional deadline to respond to the application by 22 November, 2016.
Mitsubishi currently does not have any activities in Belgium in the wind energy sector, but the Japanese giant has cooperated with Eneco on the 129MW Eneco Luchterduinen offshore wind farm in the Netherlands, with the companies holding a 50% stake in the wind farm each.
The Norther wind farm will comprise V164-8 MW turbines built by MHI Vestas, which is a joint venture between Vestas and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The project is expected to be operational by early 2019, becoming Belgium’s largest wind farm.
Norther is located approximately 22 kilometres off the coast of Zeebrugge.