The construction of the Sprimont wind farm in Wallonia, Belgium, marks a step toward renewable energy and carbon reduction goals. Located along the E25 motorway in Damré, approximately 100 km from Brussels, the new onshore wind farm will feature five wind turbines with an annual production capacity of between 32 and 38 MWh, enough to supply clean energy to over 10,000 households.
The project will help offset 16% of the municipality’s CO₂ emissions, directly supporting the local council’s ambitious target of achieving a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as part of its climate plan.
Nordex, the project’s contractor, has entrusted Sarens with the installation of the turbines. Sarens will oversee the unloading and lifting operations for components weighing between 17 and 65 tons, with lifts reaching up to 83 meters.
To minimize disruptions, particularly near industrial sites, certain installations will take place at night. Two of the turbines will be located on an industrial estate, one of which is situated on the premises of a concrete plant. Sarens’ engineering team has carefully planned the operations to address space constraints and ensure smooth progress.
The project will utilize cranes with lifting capacities ranging from 130 to 800 tons, mobilized from both Sarens BE NVand Sarens France. The heavy equipment will remain on-site for two months, allowing Sarens to execute its operations efficiently and safely.
The Sprimont wind farm is part of Belgium’s broader push to decarbonize its energy production. According to GlobalData, wind energy already accounted for 15% of Belgium’s electricity output by the end of 2023. The upward trend is expected to continue, with a 23% increase in installed wind capacity projected between 2024 and 2035, growing annually at a rate of 7%.
Bert Kustermans, Project Manager at Sarens, expressed pride in contributing to such a pivotal initiative for Wallonia: “We are very happy to be involved in such an important project for the province of Wallonia. Being able to transfer all the experience Sarens has gained in international onshore wind projects of all types and sizes allows us to optimise our efforts to the maximum and ensure that the work in which we take part at Sprimont will be carried out in the safest and most efficient way. We are proud to play our part in the decarbonisation of Belgian energy’.
