Belgian energy island construction begins in North Sea

Elia placed the first structural elements of Belgium's offshore energy island in the North Sea, per an announcement. The island is designed to serve as a hub connecting future Belgian offshore wind capacity to the onshore grid and to neighbouring interconnectors. No in-service date was given in the headline, but the milestone marks the start of marine civil works.

In Spain, Red Eléctrica completed the Torrejón de Velasco substation roughly one year after construction began in July 2025. The €20 million facility ties into the existing Morata–Villaviciosa 400 kV corridor and adds nine bays, including a 150 MVA reactor already installed, with a second scheduled for installation by the end of the year. Red Eléctrica says the substation will improve supply security for the Madrid–Albacete–Alicante–Valencia rail corridor and ease renewable grid access in the south of the Comunidad de Madrid zone.

At EU level, the Commission's DG-ENER published a call for applications for Projects of Common and Mutual Interest covering electricity infrastructure and smart grids, per a notice. Selection under this process determines which cross-border projects qualify for accelerated permitting and potential EU funding access.