30 June 2008 - Evelop, part of sustainable-energy company Econcern, has signed a connection contract with Belgian system operator Elia concerning its Belwind offshore wind farm. The move means that construction of a second wind farm in the North Sea off the Belgian coast is now a step closer. Belwind will be connected to the Elia grid via the 150-kV Blondeellaan substation in Zeebrugge and will begin supplying electricity from there in 2010.

Evelop and Elia have already reached agreement on the purchase of green certificates for Belwind and have signed a contract detailing co-financing arrangements for the underwater cable connecting the offshore wind farm to the Elia grid; both green certificates and co-financing arrangements are key elements of statutory renewable-energy policy in Belgium. Elia is to contribute €25 million to the sea cable project and will subsequently purchase all of Belwind's green certificates for the legally stipulated minimum price for a period of 20 years.

Frank Coenen of Evelop Belgium said: "We are delighted to be able to work so closely with Elia on such a key project and signing these agreements means that we are now one step closer to getting Belwind off the ground. The project dovetails perfectly with our vision of building a Europe-wide network of power stations producing renewable energy. Following on from the Prinses Amalia Wind Farm in the Netherlands, Belwind will contribute further to our mission to supply sustainable energy for everyone."

"We are pleased to be able to play an active role in boosting production of electricity from renewable sources. Elia has paved the way for the first offshore wind farms through its proactive efforts to upgrade its grid," said Elia CEO Daniel Dobbeni.

Facts & Figures: Belwind

Belwind is an initiative by Evelop. Its application for a concession to build a wind farm on Bligh Bank was granted in June 2007 and building and operating permits were issued in early 2008. The facility will be situated within a special zone earmarked by the Belgian Government for wind farms.

Belwind will be built in two phases (each 165 MW): it will have a total capacity of 330 MW and will produce 1.1 TWh of electricity annually - enough to supply sustainable energy for 330,000 households in Belgium. A total of over €900 million is to be invested in the project. The park will be built 46 kilometres off the coast of Zeebrugge at a depth of between 20 and 35 metres and the turbines will be installed across an area of 35 km².

About Evelop (www.evelop.com)

Evelop - part of Econcern, a company whose stated mission is "A sustainable energy supply for everyone" - is one of the world's leading sustainable-energy project developers and has one of the largest portfolios of renewable-energy assets worldwide. Evelop develops and implements sustainable-energy projects in fields such as offshore and onshore wind energy, biomass and solar energy, seawater air-conditioning, utility buildings, and housing offering integrated sustainable-energy supply solutions. Evelop also operates and maintain projects.

About Elia (www.elia.be)

Elia is the Belgian transmission system operator, transmitting electricity efficiently, reliably and safely from producers to distribution system operators and major industrial users. Elia is also responsible for importing and exporting electricity from and to neighbouring countries. Elia owns the entire Belgian very-high-voltage grid (150 to 380 kV) and around 94% (ownership and user rights) of the Belgian high-voltage grid (30 to 70 kV). Elia's grid comprises 5,641 kilometres of overhead lines and 2,765 kilometres of underground cables, and is a key link between electricity markets in northern and southern Europe, as well as between Belgian producers and consumers. As a result of recent investment in interconnection capacity with neighbouring countries, Belgium has become one of the most open and interconnected countries in Europe.

Elia
Boulevard de l'Empereur, 20
B-1000 Brussels
Tel.: +32 2 546 70 11
Fax: +32 2 546 70 10

Note to editors
For further information about Belwind and Evelop, please contact
Anouk Stortenbeker
Marketing & Communications Manager
T          +31 30 283 36 08    
M         +31 6 155 89 769    
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For more information about Elia, please contact:
Lise Mulpas
T          +32 2 546 73 75
M         +32 478 65 28 90
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or
Erik De Leye
T          +32 2 546 72 11
M         +32 475 69 17 99
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