2023-05-27 05:27:00
The Loop of Hainaut is a controversial project carried out by Elia, the manager of the Belgian electricity network. The project involves installing a 380 kV high voltage line with a transmission capacity of 6 GW. Residents of fourteen municipalities would be affected by the new power line, which Elia hopes will be commissioned in 2030. The aim of the loop is, in particular, to transport the electricity produced in the North Sea to the Belgium. According to Elia, it is also a question of strengthening the local Hainaut network and bringing in more renewable electricity.
Several local residents, united within the non-profit association Revolht, are strongly opposed to the project. According to them, Elia should opt for an underground direct current line. On the contrary, Elia advocates the installation of an alternating current overhead line (possibly with a small part buried, but always in alternating current). According to Elia, alternating current is essential if we want Hainaut’s local electricity network to be able to connect to the Loop. However, this type of current cannot be buried over long distances, unlike direct current, says Elia.
Willy Borsus (MR), the Walloon Minister in charge of Spatial Planning, is responsible for the file at Walloon level. On its initiative, the Walloon government confirmed the need for the Boucle du Hainaut. Nevertheless, the liberal specified that the environmental impact study would analyze all the alternatives to the project as proposed by Elia. According to Willy Borsus, the impact study must therefore assess whether the alternative project defended by the non-profit association Revolht holds up.
Hainaut loop: the Walloon government is moving forward, to the chagrin of local residents
The federal advances
In addition, Federal Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) recently approved Elia’s Federal Development Plan 2024-2034. This plan includes the controversial Boucle du Hainaut project.
Catherine Fonck, leader of the Les Engagés group in the Chamber, believes that this federal endorsement is “incoherent”. “Elia’s plan, validated by the federal government, indicates that the aerial alternating current solution will be chosenexplains Catherine Fonck. It is specified that a partial burial, still in alternating current, might be envisaged. On the other hand, Elia’s plan completely closes the door to complete direct current burial, the solution recommended by Revolht. But Willy Borsus recently indicated that this lead would be analyzed in the impact study”.
La Boucle du Hainaut is a strategic project for our energy future. It is therefore necessary to convince the local residents to join the project. And the only way to do that is to go with an underground DC line.
The leader of the Engagés therefore denounces a “dishonest double talk” from the Walloon government. According to her, Willy Borsus suggests that we are studying the alternative scenario of Revolht, while the federal government has already validated the solution advocated by Elia.
Catherine Fonck also denounces the Walloon government’s lack of reaction during the public consultation organized by Elia. “Elia organized a public consultation on its development plan, of which the Boucle du Hainaut is a partshe says. The Walloon Region has had to react officially to this public consultation by Elia. However, in the report of this public consultation, we can read that the Walloon government has validated Elia’s choices. If it accepts Elia’s project as it stands, the Walloon government must say so publicly.”
Catherine Fonck calls on the Walloon government to put pressure on Elia and the federal government to modify the project. “The Loop of Hainaut is a strategic project for our energy futureshe says. If it is not accepted by local residents, there will be appeals at each stage and commissioning in 2030 will not be possible. It is therefore necessary to convince the local residents to join the project. And the only way to do that is to opt for an underground line”. A solution that is not one, according to Elia.
The leader of the Engagés group questioned Tinne Van der Straeten on this sensitive issue.
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