Project ONE, a multi-billion investment in the port of Antwerp, receives power from Elia cable for the first time

Milestone for successful start-up of the ethane cracker

On 19 December ​ an important milestone for Project ONE was reached: for the first time, the main substation of the site under construction was connected to the Belgian national electricity grid. This necessary test is the first in a series of milestones towards the permanent commissioning of Project ONE's electricity infrastructure, including the unit substations that will be completed and connected in phases over the coming months. The direct connection to the 380kV station, which is unique in Belgian industry, helps to ensure continuous access to power and reduce power losses, both of which are vital for process chemistry.

The main substation distributes the incoming power to the Project ONE electrical network. Here, the 380,000 volts of electricity from Elia is received and gradually converted to lower voltages by means of transformers in the substations, after which the electricity is distributed to various plant units. This creates the right voltage for the various consumers on site, such as pumps, compressors, fans, lighting, etc., ​ ​ via a network of no less than 1,200 km of electricity cables. The Grid Intake Station acts as the central nervous system that supplies the factory with power and continuously monitors its safe, reliable and efficient operation.

The successful commissioning is the result of close cooperation between INEOS and transmission system operator Elia. In the autumn of 2023, Elia started work on the construction of an underground connection between the Lillo high-voltage substation ​ and the Project ONE site on Scheldelaan in Antwerp. This was achieved by laying two underground electricity cables over a distance of just under 3 kilometres. Each of these cables connects to a different part of the electricity network, providing additional security in the power supply. This work was completed in December 2024.

All the electricity entering Project ONE's Grid Intake Substation is 100% green energy, sourced from wind farms off the Belgian coast.

John McNally, CEO of INEOS Project One, stated:

"In 2025, mountains were moved at our Antwerp site, with the installation of cracking furnaces, distillation columns, boilers and flares transforming our site into a chemical plant. A plant can only operate as long as the utilities are functioning properly. The successful test for commissioning the main substation at our site in collaboration with Elia is therefore an important crowning achievement for this year's work. Above all, it has been a great team effort between Elia's engineers and technicians, our construction team and the future operators and electrical experts of the factory, who are already fully involved in the preparations for the start-up."

Frédéric Dunon, CEO of Elia Transmission Belgium, stated:

The underground high-voltage connection for Project One is a great milestone that we have achieved thanks to smooth cooperation with INEOS employees and many other stakeholders. The energy transition is not a distant future, but a reality that we are shaping today. Elia is accelerating the expansion of the electricity grid to give industry access to low-carbon energy. We cannot achieve this alone: cooperation is crucial. We work closely with our customers to understand their needs and with governments to make projects possible. With these and many other achievements, we are ensuring that our industry, large and small, remains firmly anchored in Belgium and retains its competitive edge in Europe.

Equipped with advanced materials

The substation is equipped with state-of-the-art electrical equipment from Siemens Energy for the supply of switchgear and protection systems that guarantee high reliability without interruptions in the network. General Electric Vernova was responsible for supplying high-efficiency, low-loss transformers. Schneider Electric supplied an energy management system for remote monitoring and control of the electricity grid, which is necessary for continuous safe, reliable and efficient operation.

Media assets

This video from Elia shows the work involved in constructing the underground connection between the Lillo high-voltage substation and the Project ONE site on Scheldelaan in Antwerp.

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