BE-WISE Reports

The BE-WISE Research Project aims to develop policy recommendations to strengthen the competitive position of the Belgian offshore wind sector. The project aims to strategically position the Belgian offshore wind industry for success, focusing on promoting economic competitiveness, decarbonization, and supply security. Explore the BE‑WISE reports for detailed findings and in‑depth analysis of Belgium’s offshore wind industry on this page.

The Belgian offshore wind energy sector: An in-depth analysis

This first BE-WISE report offers a clear and timely snapshot of the current state of the Belgian offshore wind sector. It provides an overview of the sector’s key strengths, strategic priorities, and economic impact. It also maps where Belgian companies hold strong positions across the offshore wind value chain, which third countries are most relevant as suppliers and export markets, and the companies' policy preferences. To make the findings even easier to grasp, the report includes a concise infographic summarizing the main results.

State aid in the Belgian offshore wind ecosystem

Offshore wind has become a strategic sector for Belgium and Europe alike, and understanding how public support reaches the Belgian offshore wind ecosystem is an important first step in assessing industrial policy. This second BE-WISE report focuses on state aid in the Belgian offshore wind supply chain. It asks which firms receive aid, how large these awards are, what objectives they serve, and through which instruments they are granted. The report combines European Commission state aid transparency data, Orbis Europe firm-level accounts and textual analysis of underlying case files, covering 2016 - 2023. The analysis is deliberately descriptive, documenting patterns, concentrations and policy channels without claiming causal effects.

International competitiveness of offshore wind: Trade flows, tariffs and supply chain dependence

Wind turbines and their components cross borders multiple times before installation offshore, making trade a key determinant of the competitiveness of Europe's offshore wind industry. This third BE-WISE report analyses the international competitiveness of the European and Belgian offshore wind sectors using bilateral trade data on wind turbines and key components from 2007 to 2024. It also examines tariffs and non-tariff barriers and develops policy recommendations based on the findings.