Press release: Belgian energy cooperatives are today launching Our Energy: “By participating in offshore wind turbines, we will give half a million Belgians control over energy production by 2030”

Our Energy is an ambitious tour de force by energy cooperatives to place citizens at the centre of the energy transition.

Brussels, 18 February 2025 – 34 Belgian energy cooperatives under umbrella organisation SeaCoop today launched the platform Our Energy. The energy cooperatives involved want citizens to participate in the production and sale of green electricity through a participation of SeaCoop via Aspiravi Offshore in the Northwind offshore wind farm and the conclusion of a cooperation agreement with Otary, Ocean Winds and Eneco in the bidding for the concession of the Princess Elisabeth Zone I offshore wind farm. By 2030, the platform aims to have half a million Belgians participate through cooperatives, for and by citizens: a fourfold increase compared to today.

“We aim to develop Our Energy into a platform that provides Belgians with good information about the possibilities of participating and joining energy cooperatives. Initially we will refer people to a cooperative that suits them best, but we will be developing Our Energy into a strong brand that gives citizens direct access to cooperatives and cooperative energy suppliers”, says chair Tom Willems.

Our Energy is the first initiative of this magnitude in Europe. “The high energy prices after the war in Ukraine shocked many citizens. By becoming co-owner of the renewable energy production capacity of the Princess Elisabeth Zone in the future and selling the generated electricity through the cooperative suppliers, citizens will receive electricity in a transparent manner and at a fair price”, says vice-chairman Fabrice Collignon.

Participation in Northwind via Aspiravi Offshore: Citizen cooperatives become owners of offshore wind energy for the first time

SeaCoop has entered into an agreement to buy into Aspiravi Offshore on behalf of 34 Belgian citizen energy cooperatives for 10% of the capital. Aspiravi Offshore owns 70% of the Northwind offshore wind farm.

“SeaCoop’s entry into Aspiravi Offshore demonstrates our ambition to give citizens access to offshore wind energy production”, says managing director Philippe Awouters. “This participation makes citizens the direct owners of offshore wind energy. This is a first step: after all, the wind blows for everyone.”

The stake in Aspiravi Offshore indirectly gives SeaCoop a production capacity of 15 MW, the equivalent of five wind turbines, which corresponds to electricity production for approximately 15,000 households.

“Aspiravi Offshore has been involved in offshore wind energy projects in Belgium for more than 15 years. In our collaboration with SeaCoop, we remain true to our Belgian roots, because SeaCoop too is 100% Belgian. Furthermore, we share a common goal with SeaCoop: involving citizens in the energy transition”, says Rik Van de Walle, CEO Aspiravi Offshore.

Financing of the buy-in to Aspiravi Offshore will be borne by the cooperatives that are members of SeaCoop and that in many cases raise additional capital from their members for this purpose. External bank financing is also being used temporarily.

Haddock Wind Consortium for the Princess Elisabeth Zone I concession

In addition to its participation in Aspiravi Offshore, SeaCoop will participate in the bidding for the Princess Elisabeth Zone I concession from 2025 (subject to all the required regulatory/competition authorisations) by becoming a partner in a consortium called Haddock Wind, together with Eneco, Ocean Winds and Otary. After the awarding, SeaCoop will actively participate in the development of this new zone in order to give even more citizens control over energy production and the price of energy by 2030.

“The Belgian government believes it is important that citizens can benefit from offshore wind and the energy generated there, in accordance with European guidelines to support renewable energy communities. We want to be a part of this story and help make it happen”, says Olivier Pesesse, Director at SeaCoop.

Eneco, Ocean Winds and Otary warmly welcome SeaCoop to the consortium.  Bruno Verbeke is Project Director of the Haddock Wind consortium: “We are very pleased to have the valuable expertise of citizen participation on board. The energy transition must be a collective effort. With our new partner, we are strengthening our ability to engage citizens in shaping the offshore wind landscape in Belgium, ensuring long-term support and local impact.”

High ambitions and major benefits for citizens

Our Energy is the most ambitious project that Belgian energy cooperatives have set up. “The aim is to take an important step forward by joining forces in a process to give citizens direct participation, and thus more transparency, in the production and sale of electricity. We give citizens the opportunity to take control of their energy production and use. We see this as a long-term ambition”, says Philippe Awouters.

Residents of Belgium can use Our Energy to participate in local cooperatives. On the information platform onzeenergie.be – notreenergie.be – unsereenergie.be they are referred to the cooperative that suits them best and they receive more information about energy services. After joining a cooperative, they can also purchase energy from Ecopower or Cociter.

Belgians who become members can participate in decisions about energy policy: What is being invested in? What products are being developed? In addition, members can decide each year what dividend to pay out and they can purchase energy at a fair price via Ecopower or Cociter.

More information? Interviews?

More information is available upon request to bram@talkingbirds.be.
Spokespersons for the organisation are available for interviews.