How has your role evolved at Parkwind?

I started as an engineer and I’m still in an engineering function. In the beginning, I was mainly busy with reporting the technicalities of the turbines. My job has become much more wide, addressing challenges and interests of many more stakeholders than in the past. Now I am responsible for the team behind the operations and maintenance of our wind turbines. We need to make sure our turbines function well and minimize any downtime. We do performance analysis, preventive maintenance, and sometimes troubleshooting. We are constantly looking to get the maximum productivity out of our turbines.

What is it like to work on the operations and maintenance team?

When you work offshore, it’s a full day that you’re together with your colleagues. You’re on a vessel in an enclosed space. You have to rely on the professionalism and skills of your colleagues for you to be in a safe position. You need to open your comfort space and embrace your colleagues within your comfort space so you can do your work. Onshore, we’re also informal. There’s a very comfortable feeling that makes you feel you’re working more with family than with colleagues. Together you need to discuss all small things, you need to work together, you need to be proactive, and you need to look for solutions. You also have to assist your colleagues with manual handling actions, for instance. This gives you a connection with colleagues that you don’t have if you only do office work.

What is it like to work offshore?

Like when I go surfing at sea, I feel very humble because you really feel the forces of nature, the wind, and the waves. You cannot control anything. It’s a power that is beyond your imagination and your control. When you see the turbines, it’s just the same. Even if it’s calm and it’s beautiful flat sea, you still are astonished by the power that is signed out by these turbines. It’s idealistic for these giants to stand out there. Then you go into the elevator, go into the nacelle, open the hatch, step out, and look around you. It’s like, “This is an impressive setting in which I work.” That feeling and fascination don’t go away.

What is life like at Parkwind?

There’s a huge amount of trust from management to every layer in the organization to take on responsibilities, to take on new challenges, and to grasp every opportunity that you can. There is openness. You also feel that the shareholders are there for multiple reasons. First of all, to have a good business plan. But also to be part of something bigger. You really can feel it. We work in renewable energy and we try to do good for our stakeholders, for the environment, for the Belgium government, and for the people of Belgium.

What is challenging about your work?

What the big challenge is in operations and maintenance is that our production plant is remote. You cannot just walk from your desk to your machines and see what’s going on. You have to rely on the information that comes from offshore teams. It’s really difficult to have the exact knowledge onshore of the things happen offshore. That’s a true challenge.

How is Parkwind viewed in the industry?

I think Parkwind is very respected in the industry as being a company that has only existed about 10 years and has about 120 full-time employees, but that has been able to really have an impact on offshore wind energy. I don’t think there are a lot of companies of the size and the small magnitude of Parkwind that have been able to do that. If you speak of Parkwind in Belgium, but also in other countries, people have respect for the track records of a company like Parkwind in an industry that is more than more dominated by big utility companies.

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Maarten van der Horst

Project Director Oriel

Maarten joined Parkwind and more specifically the Oriel project team in early 2021. He brings 17 years of experience in the energy industry having worked at Engie's renewables arm first as an engineer, later as offshore specialist.

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Wim Verrept

Risk, QHSSE, IT & Process Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2016 as risk manager, during the installation phase of Nobelwind. Since then his responsibilities have expanded to include IT and the QHSSE department. Before joining the company, he worked as a risk manager at large financial institution in Belgium.

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Ingrid Dony

HR Manager

Ingrid joined Parkwind in 2013 and manages the Human Resources department. Her expertise in corporate HR has created the foundations in Parkwind’s evolving and rapidly growing employee and consultant base. Her team manages everything from payroll to employee development and communications. She has been instrumental in preparing the organization for international expansion and the digitalization of numerous HR legal and administrative tools.

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Dirk Dewettinck

Head of R&D

At Parkwind since 2015 he manages the engineering resources involved in project development, design and construction. He was closely involved in the technical management of the Nobelwind and Northwester 2 projects. Prior to joining Parkwind, he was involved in other offshore wind projects, working for a major wind turbine supplier, and prior to that he worked for more than 15 years with major engineering contractors in projects around the world, mainly in the conventional power generation construction and services (steam, gas, nuclear).

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Clément Helbig de Balzac

Project Manager of Arcadis

Joining Parkwind in 2011 as a project finance specialist and he was heavily involved in the financing and construction of Northwind and Nobelwind. Thereafter, as project finance manager, he led the financing process of Northwester 2 and the refinancing of three operational offshore wind farms of the Parkwind portfolio. He is also involved in business development projects for his expertise lies in financing processes, construction contract negotiation, contracting strategy and development and construction management.

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Edward Van Melkebeek

Head of Technology

Since joining Parkwind in 2018, he has been leading the Technology team responsible for leveraging Parkwind’s know-how in civil, electrical and WTG packages to development of new projects. The team also performs a supply chain role, managing technical aspects of project contracts. Previously, he has built extensive practical and managerial experience in the offshore construction business for over 22 years at a global leading dredging and offshore contractor strongly active in the offshore wind industry.

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Mathias Van Steenwinkel

Business Development Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2012 working on financial modelling, PPA negotiations and the overall financial close processes. Since 2016, he is heading the growing business development department playing a key role in the identification of new projects, global partnerships and tender preparations.

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Kristof Verlinden

O&M Manager

With Parkwind since 2010, he is responsible for the asset management and production management of all of Parkwind’s offshore operational assets. The O&M organization plays a pivotal role in project development incorporating strategic insight to ensure frictionless O&M operations from the moment of first production. The team also supplies external support services, is involved in numerous R&D initiatives with universities and wind farm performance analysis using state of the art data systems. Kristof joined Parkwind with an engineering background in international service support business and wind turbine driveline design validation.

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Pieter Marinus

General Counsel and Investment Relations Director

As a former Parkwind board member, he has been involved in the financial close and follow-up of every Parkwind project as well as in their acquisition and divestment processes. Prior to joining Parkwind’s management in 2017, he was also in charge of multiple other renewable energy investments and financings around Europe, notably as Investment Director at Korys, Parkwind’s controlling shareholder.

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Peter Caluwaerts

Project Director

After years of building extensive experience in large construction works, he started his career in offshore wind in 2010 by taking up the role of CLO of Parkwind, responsible for regulatory, legal and contracting matters for Belwind and Northwind windfarms. Since then, as Project Director, he’s led the Northwester 2 project completed in 2020 and is now responsible for Parkwind’s Irish projects Oriel and Clogherhead. He plays an instrumental role in organizing Parkwind’s international expansion and growth.

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Eric Antoons

co-CEO

Before joining the company in 2013, he worked for one of the largest power and gas suppliers in Belgium, in both operational and executive functions. Joining Parkwind in 2013 as COO, he supervised the construction of three wind farm projects and the considerable growth of O&M activities. Since becoming co-CEO in 2016, he has also developed Parkwind’s R&D activities to the forefront partnering with universities and several technology start-ups.

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Francois Van Leeuw

co-CEO

He joined the nascent Parkwind as a CFO in 2009 and has been leading the financing and development of the four Belgian wind farms Belwind, Northwind, Nobelwind and Northwester 2. In his role he’s particularly involved in new business and partnership development for Parkwind globally. He is also serving as the chairman of the Belgian Offshore Platform, the non-profit association of investors and owners of Belgian wind farms.