On 28 October, the screws were delivered by cargo ship and transferred to a pontoon using two 300-tonne cranes. From the pontoon, the screw was lifted with a 500-ton and 700-ton crane and installed. This operation was repeated three times and required millimetre precision. What now follows is the further finishing of the screws, the mounting of the drives (motors, gearboxes, brakes, etc.) and the electrical finishing of the installation. The plant will be started up in January 2022 and adjusted in February/March. From April onwards, the plant should start working with the previously built plants.

EQUANS has been active on site since February 2021 but, prior to that, the electromechanics specialist also completed a great deal of work behind the scenes. Bart Van Pelt: “Behind the scenes, we worked on the construction of the operating panels, the screws and their bases. In fact, we completed all the preparation required in order to get on site, including a very detailed installation plan. The three gigantic Archimedes screws are undoubtedly the eye-catcher in this project. Weighing 95 tonnes, with a diameter of 4.3 m and a length of 22 m, they are the largest screws in the world. That’s quite a challenge in terms of controlling the forces on the installation. Another challenge is operating the plant and controlling the impact of this element on the existing water balance. Commissioning in April will therefore be a crucial moment.”