Specialist lifting equipment manufacturer Modulift is playing a crucial role in the construction of “Princess Elisabeth,” the world’s first artificial energy island in the North Sea. Located 30 miles off Belgium’s coast within the 3.5-GW Princess Elisabeth offshore wind zone, this island will centralize electricity from wind farms, contributing significantly to the EU’s goal of 300 GW offshore wind capacity by 2050.
TM Edison, a joint venture between Jan De Nul and DEME Group NV, is responsible for the construction and installation of this groundbreaking energy hub. The project is slated for completion by the end of 2026. Key to the construction are large concrete caissons, built onshore and transported to their offshore location, which form the island’s outer perimeter.
Modulift’s spreader beams are essential in lifting these heavy structural elements. The beams are used in a 1-over-1 configuration, with a MOD 34 at the top and a MOD 24 at the bottom, to hoist formwork sections weighing around 17 tons and 10 meters in length. Ruben Verschueren, Site Superintendent Civil Works at TM Edison, emphasized the beams’ critical role in safely positioning the formwork.
Sarah Spivey, Managing Director of Modulift, highlighted the company’s reputation for safety and efficiency in the global lifting industry. She noted that Modulift’s yellow spreader beams, which are DNV Type Approved up to 2000t, are known across the renewable and offshore energy sectors for their reliability and reusability in lengthy projects. Spivey expressed pride in contributing to this pioneering renewable energy project, underscoring Modulift’s integral role in the construction of the Princess Elisabeth Island.
