Possible wind turbines for Porte de Namur

Sustainable energy solutions company Amaay!, located in the Bastion Tower (pictured) at Brussels’ Porte de Namur, has submitted a planning application for the integration of three city windmills and one wind turbine in and around its central offices, reports brusselnieuws.be. "We are very hopeful that we will get a building permit," says the company.

The city windmills should generate enough energy to provide lighting for the public spaces around Porte de Namur. Amaay!’s Bob Starck confirms that the Porte de Namur is a good location because it already acts as a wind tunnel. "Our measurements show that there is sufficient wind,” he told brusselnieuws.be.

"The turbines would mainly serve to increase our expertise; We are currently in the experimental phase." The company has submitted a planning application to the city. But according to Starck, it has already received positive signals from the Brussels-Capital Region that the permit will be delivered, as the region is a partner in the project.

A VUB study earlier found that small wind turbines are useful in an urban environment, despite their relatively low output.