In total, Ventilus involves a route of 73 kilometers. Part of this will run underground, another part will use the existing power grid. But there will also be 21 kilometers of new overhead high-voltage line. This new air line will be along the E403 between Izegem and Torhout (17 kilometers) and in Lendelede (4 kilometers).
About eighty families live near the new high-voltage line and another hundred live close to existing lines that are being reinforced. The Flemish government now has an agreement with Elia about their compensation.
For example, the zone in which owners can voluntarily sell their home or building land to Elia will be increased from 35 meters today to 100 meters. From now on, companies can also be bought out, up to a distance of 100 meters. The value of a home, building land or business is independently estimated before sale. If owners do not want to move because of Ventilus, they can claim compensation up to a distance of 200 meters from a new overhead line. There is a separate arrangement for owners who live near an existing line that is being reinforced.
Fonds
The general rule is that the closer a property is to a (new) overhead line and the greater the nuisance, the higher the compensation will be. The owner of a house with a value of 350,000 euros that is located at a distance of up to 35 meters from Ventilus is thus entitled to compensation of 25 percent or 87,500 euros from Elia. For the same house located at a distance of between 35 and 55 meters, this concerns a compensation of 20 percent or 70,000 euros.
Furthermore, a local fund will be set up to help the affected West Flemish municipalities to improve the quality of life near high-voltage lines. Elia provides up to 400,000 euros per kilometer of new overhead line for this. More is not allowed by the CREG, the federal energy regulator that monitors the electricity bill. The costs that Elia incurs for Ventilus are included in the invoice. Because Flanders has always promised that this sum would amount to 2 million euros per kilometer, the government will make up the difference from its own pocket. This is a cost of 38.5 million euros.
“The lack of clarity about the compensatory policy started to weigh on everyone. By completely completing the package with Elia and making an effort from Flanders itself, we will put an end to that uncertainty. The agreements with Elia are also anchored in a protocol. We are now allowing the Ventilus public inquiry to continue with a view to a final adoption of the spatial implementation plan in a few months,” says Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA).
Importantly, the increased compensation for residents of Ventilus is no exception. For new Elia projects, owners and companies in the vicinity of additional high-voltage lines will from now on always be entitled to these conditions. The Belgian power grid must be prepared for the green transition in the coming decades. Electricity will play a crucial role in this. A lot of investments will therefore still be needed.
