Offshore decommissioning: the Belgian experience

When: Thursday, 23 April 2026, 11:00 - 12:00
Where: N109+N110

Session description

The first offshore wind farms in the Belgian North Sea will soon enter the decommissioning phase — a major upcoming challenge for the sector.
This session will tackle key aspects of offshore wind decommissioning, including the main cost drivers, practical scenario insights, the DecomExplorer 3D visualisation tool, and a concept roadmap outlining challenges and possible mitigation pathways. These insights build on work carried out in the OWiDEx project.
The session will also explore how circular approaches and value chain perspectives can shape future end-of-life strategies for offshore wind infrastructure, with sustainability and viability assessments of different decommissioning and material recovery scenarios developed within the Circular Transition in Offshore Wind (CTO) initiative. In addition, opportunities to repurpose existing offshore wind infrastructure for new energy applications, such as wave or tidal energy systems and floating solar, will be discussed based on work from the MP Multi-use project.
Join us to explore practical insights, future opportunities, and key questions for the offshore wind industry. A Q&A session will follow the presentations.

Panel

Rebecca Verhaeghe

Project Manager Blue Energy, POM West-Vlaanderen

Sue Taelman

Innovation officer for offshore wind energy, Ghent University

Karen Hemelsoet

Business Developer - Metals, UGent

Bert Conings

Senior Engineer Energy Transition, Sirris

Jochem Vermeir

R&D Manager, Parkwind