BE-WISE Research Project
Strengthening the competitiveness of the Belgian offshore wind sector via industrial policy strategies and economics
BE-WISE aims to develop policy recommendations to strengthen the competitive position of the Belgian offshore wind sector. It involves an in-depth political-economic analysis of existing and emerging industrial policy strategies in Europe, such as direct state aid, prequalification criteria for auctions, and trade defense instruments. The project aims to strategically position the Belgian offshore wind industry for success, focusing on promoting economic competitiveness, decarbonization, and supply security.
Partners: Ghent University (coordinator), BOC
Period: October 2024 – September 2026
Funding: The Energy Transition Fund of the Belgian federal government, managed by the FPS Economy
Project Partners
- Ghent University is both the academic research partner in this project and the project coordinator. Involved research groups include the Ghent Institute for International and European Studies, part of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, and the Department of Economics, part of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
- Belgian Offshore Cluster (BOC) is a broad, independent and industrial platform that maintains relationships between the offshore wind sector, governments and international organizations. Within the BE-WISE project, BOC will play a crucial role in both gathering stakeholder input and disseminating research results.
Project goals
The transition towards a net-zero economy is increasingly characterized by geopolitical competition and the use of industrial policy instruments. For wind energy, several major economies have implemented various direct and indirect state support measures, including subsidies, local content requirements and procurement regulations.
This changing global landscape comes with particular challenges and opportunities for the Belgian offshore wind energy (OWE) industry, which has emerged as a major global player. BE-WISE will formulate evidence-based policy recommendations in relation to industrial policy measures that can affect the OWE industry in Belgium, in particular with regard to auction design, state aid and trade defense instruments.
To that end, the BE-WISE project will 1) construct a comprehensive overview of the commercial interests and competitive strengths of the Belgian OWE industry; 2) analyze the effects of already-implemented climate, energy and industrial policy instruments on the Belgian OWE industry; and 3) map and examine the effect of industrial policy measures under consideration at the EU and member state level on the Belgian OWE industry.
Contact
Project coordinator
- Thijs Van de Graaf – thijs.vandegraaf@ugent.be
Project team (UGent)
- Ferdi De Ville – ferdi.deville@ugent.be
- Bruno Merlevede – bruno.merlevede@ugent.be
- Marten Ovaere – marten.ovaere@ugent.be
- Pablo Muylle – pablo.muylle@ugent.be
- Sue Ellen Taelman – SueEllen.Taelman@UGent.be
Project team (BOC)
- Erwin Leys – leys@belgianoffshorecluster.com
- Dirk Schelkens – dirk@belgianoffshorecluster.com
With the support of the Belgian federal Energy Transition Fund
