Two ENGIE wind turbines officially inaugurated at Beaulieu in Kruisem

Kruisem, August 29, 2025 – In the presence of Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and the local municipal authorities, Beaulieu International Group and ENGIE today officially inaugurated two newly constructed wind turbines at the Beaulieu International Group site in Kruisem. These investments align with the sustainability objectives of both Beaulieu International Group and ENGIE, which are committed to decarbonizing their operations. 

In the first half of 2025, two new wind turbines with a combined capacity of 8.4 megawatts were erected on Beaulieu International Group’s premises near the E17 motorway. ENGIE was responsible for project development, financing, and construction of the turbines and will also manage their operation and maintenance. The electricity generated—approximately 23 million kilowatt-hours per year, roughly equivalent to the average annual consumption of 6,600 households—will be used locally and cover 35 to 40 percent of the annual electricity needs of Beaulieu Fibres (fibres) and Beaulieu Needlefelt (needlefelt carpet) production sites. This will reduce Beaulieu International Group’s CO₂ emissions by approximately 9,200 tons per year. 

Vincent Verbeke, CEO of ENGIE Belgium, said: “Renewable energy and supporting our industrial customers in their decarbonization efforts are two key pillars of ENGIE’s #Energize2030 strategy in Belgium. With these two new wind turbines at Beaulieu International Group, we take another step towards our goal of achieving 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity on the Belgian mainland by 2030 and reducing our operational emissions to net zero by 2045.”

As highlighted in Beaulieu International Group’s recently published annual and sustainability report, the Group aims to consume 100% renewable energy across all its operations by 2030. 

Solar and wind energy continue to power B.I.G.’s future: in addition to the two new wind turbines, the Group currently has around 30,000 installed solar panels worldwide, from the U.S. to Slovenia, Belgium, France, and Spain. 

“These wind turbines represent new milestones in our sustainability strategy,” said Jean-Baptiste De Ruyck, CEO of B.I.G. “Thanks to various initiatives, our global CO₂ footprint decreased by approximately 13% between 2021 and 2024, allowing us to cautiously say we are on the right track.”

The Kruisem site is a strategic pillar for B.I.G., underscoring the importance of local production. A state-of-the-art thermoconsolidation line was recently commissioned for the production of Rewind® event carpet—the world’s first latex-free, waterless, fully recyclable needlefelt carpet. This 180-meter-long line, equipped with a larger and more advanced oven, delivers dual benefits: increased production speed and capacity, along with significantly improved energy efficiency. Combined with the investment in wind energy, this demonstrates B.I.G.’s strong local roots in Belgium and its commitment to sustainable local production. 

Matthias Diependaele, Flemish Minister-President, commented: “With this new production line, Beaulieu continues the Flemish textile tradition by focusing on innovation. ENGIE’s wind turbines provide energy security in uncertain geopolitical times. Together, they show how we can keep the Flemish manufacturing industry competitive in the future.”

ENGIE, in collaboration with crowdfunding platform Spreds, offers local residents and Beaulieu Kruisem employees the opportunity to invest in the wind turbines. Subscriptions are open from Monday, September 1, 2025, until October 10, 2025, for amounts between €500 and €3,000, in increments of €500. Crowdfunding participants will receive an annual gross return of 4% (net 2.8% after withholding tax) on their investment for five years. At the end of year five, the invested capital will be fully repaid. More information is available at https://www.spreds.com/engie.