7 Liebherr Cranes for the Stunning Energy Artificial Island in Belgium

Seven Liebherr tower cranes were deployed during the construction of the artificial energy island, the “Princess Elisabeth Energy Island”, located off the coast of Belgium.

The “Princess Elisabeth Energy Island” is an artificial island designed to consolidate and distribute offshore wind energy. Positioned 45 km off the Belgian coast in the Princess Elisabeth Zone, it will centralise electricity from wind farms in the area and provide the landing point for two hybrid interconnectors to the UK and Denmark, extending links across North Sea wind sites.

The build comprises concrete caissons arranged in a ring on the seabed, with sand infill and infrastructure above, plus a high wall for protection from waves, wind, rain, and flooding. Installation of the interconnector landings will complete the project. It will be a complex maritime operation because it will require very precise planning, but the island will become an essential part of Belgium’s electricity supply.

Developed by TM Edison, the project of the island features an impressive array of Liebherr cranes: one 1000 EC-H 50, one 550 EC-H 40 Litronic, three 340 EC B models, one 245 EC-H 12 Litronic and one 280 EC-H 16 Litronic. Out of the total seven cranes one 1000 EC-H 50 Litronic, two 340 EC-B 16 and the 550 EC-H were provided by Van Der Spek Belgium.
The EC-B and EC-H models were ideally suited for the modular construction of the island’s massive concrete structures. In particular, the high-top cranes such as the 1000 EC-H 50, with lifting capacities of up to 50 tonnes, provided the necessary performance to safely and efficiently handle the heavy components. With hook heights and jib lengths tailored to the specific site requirements, these cranes ensured continuous and timely progress on the construction schedule.