Lus van Henegouwen

With the Boucle du Hainaut and Lus van Henegouwen project (new 380kV connection between Avelgem and Kluisbergen), Elia provides a strong, future-oriented and reliable electricity grid. The projects have several objectives: 

• Supporting the energy transition
  The energy transition has been irreversibly triggered by national, European and international political decisions. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we are switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. In the coming years, therefore, more and more green electricity will be generated in the Belgian part of the North Sea and in West Flanders. These new electricity connections contribute to the climate goals.
• Bringing offshore wind to shore 
  Our North Sea will become the access point for renewable energy in the future. For example, the expansion of wind turbine capacity off our Belgian coast will generate additional green energy. New connections with other countries (interconnectors) will also increase the exchange of renewable energy with, among others, the United Kingdom and Denmark. 
• Enabling additional energy generation
  Lus van Henegouwen and Boucle du Hainaut are important infrastructure projects to achieve the climate goals. The project has a number of different objectives: 

• Offer a competitive and affordable access to electricity
• Increase capacity for renewable energy 
• Support the economic attractiveness of Wallonia and, more specifically, Hainaut  with a robust electricity grid

• Ensure a reliable electricity supply for consumers
  

• Increasing reliability of the electricity grid
  These new connections will allow for further expansion of the electricity grid for a successful energy transition. This will provide society with affordable and renewable energy. Lus van Henegouwen is also important for the ‘meshing’ of the grid. A meshed grid means that power can be routed via different paths. The power can then be transported via another connection in case a particular connection is temporarily down for maintenance or due to technical issues. This ensures a more reliable power supply. 

The high-voltage line Lus van Henegouwen will run from the high-voltage substation in Avelgem, via Kluisbergen, to the border with Wallonia. From here, the Wallonian section of this project, Boucle du Hainaut, continues to Courcelles. These new connections will allow for further expansion of the electricity grid for a successful energy transition. This will provide society with affordable and renewable energy. Lus van Henegouwen is also important for the ‘meshing’ of the grid. A meshed grid means that power can be routed via different paths. The power can then be transported via another connection in case a particular connection is temporarily down for maintenance or due to technical issues . This ensures a more reliable power supply. Finally, Lus van Henegouwen will become part of the Belgian and European electricity grid’s backbone (380kV). This connection is essential to ensure a 6 gigawatt transmission capacity between the west and centre of Belgium. 

The initial memorandum lists the objectives of the Regional Land Use Plan (GRUP) : 

• Expand the Avelgem high-voltage substation to create additional capacity for onshore energy generation or consumer connections. The expansion of the high-voltage substation is also part of the official planning process. 
• Construct a 6 GW high-voltage connection between Avelgem high-voltage substation and the border with the Walloon Region. 
• Connect with the Wallonian section of the high-voltage connection which runs to Courcelles. 

Regional Land Use Plan (GRUP) has been created for the construction of this new electricity connection. A Regional Land Use Plan determines the future land allocation for each plot of land as well as the requirements. The planning process to create a Regional Land use Plan consists of five different stages of which the first stage is the initial memorandum. The initial memorandum was approved by the Flemish Government on Friday 7 July 2023. The necessary enquiries will commence following the public consultation period and inclusion of the findings thereof in the scoping memorandum. 

Planning: 

• Initial memorandum: approved by the Flemish Government on Friday 7 July 2023 

- Public consultation following the approved initial memorandum (60 days)

• Scoping memorandum
• Preliminary draft Regional Land Use Plan (GRUP)
• Draft Regional Land Use Plan
• Public enquiry Regional Land Use Plan (60 days)
• Final approval Regional Land Use Plan 

The initial memorandum and appendices of the Regional Land Use Plan for the Lus van Henegouwen can be consulted on decisions of the Flemish Department.

Flyer Initial Memorandum GRUP (in Dutch)

Banners Lus van Henegouwen (in Dutch)

Banners Departement Omgeving (in Dutch)