Ghent East

Renovation of the Ghent region high-voltage grid.

Gent-Oost

  • texteBenefits to society
    With this project, Elia is preparing the electricity grid around Ghent for the future through restructuring works. A number of electrical installations are reaching their end-of-life and, due to energy transition, higher electricity consumption is expected in the region. For example, because of the increase in the number of electric cars, the use of heat pumps and the electrification of businesses.

    Elia is therefore replacing and installing new electrical installations in several high-voltage substations in the region around Ghent and laying new high-voltage underground connections (36kV) between the high-voltage substation Sint-Amandsberg and the high-voltage substation Wetteren. In this way, Elia will be able to continue to guarantee energy supply in the future.
  • texteInteractive map

    Interactive map of the site:

  • Renovation of the Sint-Amandsberg high-voltage substation

    Elia is carrying out the following work at the high-voltage substation on Dendermondsesteenweg in Sint-Amandsberg:

    • Replacement of the existing transformer
      A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. A new transformer, with more power, will ensure that Elia can convert more high-voltage electricity (36 kV) into medium voltage (12 kV). In addition, the transformer will produce less humming noise for the environment.
    • Installation of new switching equipment
      This is similar to the electricity distribution box in a house, but then on a much larger scale.
    • Extension of 36 kV building and new Fluvius building
      The new transformer requires more space, which is why the 36 kV building is being expanded. A new building will also be constructed next to the existing Fluvius building: here the Fluvius switching equipment will be installed.

    Planning

    • Early 2024: start of works by Elia
    • Early 2026: start of works by Fluvius
    • End of 2026: end of works by Elia
    • End of 2028: end of works by Fluvius
     
  • Expansion and modernisation of high-voltage substation Ham

    Elia is carrying out the following work at the Ham high-voltage substation (in the street with the same name at Dok Zuid) as part of the Ghent East project:

    • Replacement of the existing transformer
      A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. A new transformer will allow Elia to convert high-voltage (36kV) electricity to medium voltage (12kV). Distribution system operator Fluvius brings this electricity to homes and businesses in the region.
    • Relocation of the emergency generator
    • Installation of new switching equipment
      This is similar to the electricity distribution box in a house, but then on a much larger scale. The cable bundles between the Ham and Sint-Amandsberg high-voltage substations are deduplicated.

    Planning

    • Early 2024: start of works
    • End of 2026: end of works
     
  • Modernisation and expansion of high-voltage substation Kwatrecht (Melle)

    Elia is carrying out the following work at the high-voltage substation at Kloosterstraat and Oude Heirbaan in Kwatrecht as part of the Ghent East project:

    • Replacement of the transformer on the current site of the high-voltage substation (Oude Heirbaan 35, Melle).
      A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. A new transformer will ensure that Elia can convert more high-voltage electricity (36 kV) to medium voltage (12 kV). In addition, there will be less humming noise for the environment.
    • Expansion of high-voltage substation to Kloosterstraat and installation of new GIS. Thanks to new technologies, Elia can ensure that the new installation will be low-noise.
      A GIS high-voltage substation is a closed building with switchgear and uses SF6 gas to insulate the components. It also takes up less space than an AIS installation. More information on GIS installations can be found in the brochure “What is a high-voltage substation?” under Documents.

    Planning

    • Autumn 2024: start of works
    • End of 2027: end of works

    Modernisation and expansion of high-voltage substation Kwatrecht (Melle)

  • Modernisation and adaptation of high-voltage substation Wetteren

    Elia carries out the following activities on the high-voltage substation at Kapellendries within the framework of the Ghent East project:

    • Dismantling of the existing buildings.
    • Construction of a new GIS installation
      A GIS high-voltage substation is a closed building with switchgear and uses SF6 gas to insulate the components. It also takes up less space than an AIS installation. More information on GIS installations can be found in the brochure “What is a high-voltage substation?” under Documents. Elia is also installing a new diesel generator.
    • Replacement of the medium-voltage cabin by Fluvius in the new building.
     

    future-incorporation-of-the-high-voltage-substation

    These images are impressions of the future incorporation of the high-voltage substation into its surroundings. The final permit documents may differ slightly from this representation.

    Planning

    • Autumn 2024: start of works
    • End of 2027: end of works
     
  • Construction of new underground electricity connections (36 kV) between the high-voltage substations of Sint-Amandsberg and Wetteren

    Elia is installing new underground electricity connections (36 kV) between the high-voltage substations of Sint-Amandsberg and Wetteren. The existing underground electricity connections are at the end of their service life and are being replaced.

    Planning

    The works will be carried out in three phases:

    • Phase 1: High-voltage substation Sint-Amandsberg to high-voltage substation Flora
      - Spring 2024: submission of environmental permit application and infomarket
      - Spring 2025: start of works
      - Spring 2026: end of works
    • Phase 2: High-voltage substation Flora to high-voltage substation Kwatrecht
      - Autumn 2024: submission of environmental permit application and infomarket
      - Spring 2025: start of works
      - Spring 2026: end of works
    • Phase 3: High-voltage substation Kwatrecht to high-voltage substation Wetteren
      - Spring 2024: submission of environmental permit application and infomarket
      - Spring 2025: start of works
      - Spring 2026: end of works
     
  • environnementEnvironment

    Elia is always mindful of the local area when carrying out works. The high-voltage system operator takes a range of measures intended to mitigate disruption and impact on the local area.

    • Work will only take place during the day, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
    • Elia guarantees that homes and businesses will always be accessible during the works.
    • If local residents are set to experience a temporary increase in disruption for a specific reason, Elia or its subcontractor(s) will always individually notify those affected.
    • If normal traffic has to be diverted, the diversions will be agreed with the road authority and clearly communicated to local residents.
    • Once work is complete, the land is always restored to its original state.
     
  • docDocuments
    • Information sheet - What is a high-voltage substation? (in French and in Dutch)
    • Information sheet - Noise in the vicinity of high-voltage substations (in French and in Dutch)
    • Information sheet - Construction of underground electricity connection (in French and in Dutch)
     

Gent-Oost

03 October 2024

Start of work on the Wetteren high-voltage substation

We have been working on upgrading the Wetteren high-voltage substation in Kapellendries since September.

Gent-Oost

25 June 2024

Information session in Ledeberg attracts thirty attendees

Elia, the operator of Belgium's high-voltage grid, held an information session on Wednesday, 19 June at the Buurthuis community centre in Ledeberg, where it informed some 30 local residents about the installation of the underground 36-kV high-voltage cables between Flora (Merelbeke) and Sint-Amandsberg.



Contact us

If you are affected by a project and want to ask us something, please feel free to contact us.
Our team would be happy to help.

This website uses cookies to provide you with an optimal browsing experience. Some cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of this website and cannot be rejected, while others are used for analytical/functional/targeting purposes and can be rejected. For more information, please consult ourCookie Policy . You can manage/change your cookie preferences at any time. If you do not manage your preferences, only the cookies which are strictly necessary will be accepted.