Elia Transmission Belgium has obtained the environmental permits needed to move forward with two major grid reinforcement projects in the Port of Ghent, paving the way for additional renewable energy integration, industrial electrification and new grid connections in one of Belgium’s key industrial hubs.
According to the Belgian transmission system operator, the permits cover the construction of the new Kluizendok high-voltage substation and the refurbishment of the existing Kennedylaan high-voltage substation in Desteldonk. Together with the planned Baekeland substation, the projects are intended to strengthen the electricity network and meet the region’s growing demand for power.
The new Kluizendok substation will be built at the intersection of Vasco da Gamalaan and Marco Polostraat. Elia said the project responds to increasing industrial activity, the expansion of renewable energy generation and rising requests for new grid connections in the Kluizendok, Rieme Noord and Kuhlmann areas.
Once completed, the facility will provide additional grid connection capacity and reinforce the existing network through new 150/36 kV injection capacity.
The company has also received approval to modernise the Kennedylaan 36 kV high-voltage substation, whose infrastructure has reached the end of its technical service life. The refurbishment is designed to ensure the substation continues to play a key role in supplying electricity to the port and surrounding industries for years to come.
“Together with the construction of the new Baekeland high-voltage substation, these permits represent significant investments in the continued development of a reliable and future-proof electricity grid in the Port of Ghent,” said David Zenner, Chief Grid Solutions Officer at Elia. He added that the projects will support both new industrial developments and the continued electrification of existing businesses.
The Kluizendok project includes the construction of a central building for Elia’s high-voltage installations, a building for Fluvius’ medium-voltage installations, four power transformers, 150 kV and 36 kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), and a new 12 kV substation.
At Kennedylaan, Elia will replace the existing ageing infrastructure with three new buildings housing, among other equipment, the 36 kV installations. The project also includes relocating cables, installing new electrical equipment, removing existing transformers and adding a backup emergency generator.
Environmental measures are also part of both developments. At Kluizendok, Elia plans to implement a landscaping scheme to better integrate the substation into its surroundings, create a new buffer zone near the Doornzele Noord linkage area, and install infiltration systems and swales to improve sustainable water management.
At Kennedylaan, the company will introduce infiltration facilities, permeable gravel surfaces and a limited elevation of the site to improve resilience against future weather events and reduce flood risks.
Construction of the Kluizendok substation is scheduled to begin in August 2026, with completion expected by the end of 2029. Works at Kennedylaan are due to start in mid-August 2026 and continue until July 2029, with Elia stating that the phased execution of the project is intended to minimise disruption to the surrounding area.