Energy in Belgium explained

Energy in Belgium describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Belgium.

It is governed by the energy policy of Belgium, which is divided between several levels of government. For example, regional governments are responsible for awarding green certificates (except for offshore wind parks) while the national government is responsible for all nuclear power. As a member country of the European Union Belgium also complies with its energy policy.

Belgium is heavily reliant on ageing nuclear reactors and gas powered generators, although renewables (especially wind power) are generating an increasing percentage of electricity consumed.

The energy plan for Brussels is for it to be carbon neutral by 2050, with emissions down by 40% in 2030, 67% in 2040 and 90% in 2050 compared to 2005.[1] Belgium as a whole has a target of a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030.[2]

Energy statistics

Production capacities for electricity
(billion kWh)!Type!!Amount
Nuclear89.98
Fossil fuel78.08
Wind power35.38
Biomass18.16
Solar13.68
Hydro0.70
Total235.98
width=15em     valign=top
Electricity
(billion kWh)!Category!!Amount
Consumption81.17
Production85.27
Import13.39
Export14.05
width=15em     valign=top
Consumption
18.17
Import22.61
Export3.94
width=15em     valign=top
Consumption
234,440,000
Production4,160,000
Import243,350,000

CO2 emissions:
85.36 million tons

Primary energy consumption

Primary energy is the amount of extractable energy present in fuels as they are found in nature. It is often expressed in tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) or watt-hour (Wh). Unless stated otherwise the lower heating value is used in the remainder of this text. A portion of primary energy is converted into other forms before it is used, depending on the energy conversion efficiency of the installation and method employed. This number differs significantly from the final energy as consumed by end users.

Import

In 2021, crude oil was imported mainly from the Netherlands.[3]

Natural gas net imports are mainly from the Netherlands and Norway in 2021.[4]

Electricity

See main article: Electricity sector in Belgium.

See also: List of power stations in Belgium. Electrabel is main producer of electricity, followed by EDF Luminus.

Short term trading is done via the Belpex energy exchange, which is now part of APX-ENDEX. The Belgian transmission grid, operated by Elia System Operator, has a central position in the Synchronous grid of Continental Europe. This allows Belgium to trade electricity with its neighbours. Although currently there are only physical connections with the Netherlands and France, links with Germany (Alegro) and the United Kingdom (Nemo) are planned. Currently a maximum of 3500 MW can be imported.[5] In comparison, the net installed generation capacity in Belgium is estimated to be 19,627 MW.[6]

According to the GEMIX report the potential of renewable energy sources is 17 TWh per year.[7]

Energy types

Nuclear power

See main article: Nuclear power in Belgium.

Nuclear power typically contributes between 50% and 60% of the electricity produced domestically (50.4% in 2010).

Belgium has two nuclear power plants:

By law[8] the nuclear power plants are to be phased-out. Two reactors (Doel 3 and Tihange 2) were closed in 2012; however the government has extended the life of the remaining five. The lifetime of one old reactor was extended to 2025; and in 2023, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was agreed to extend the life of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors to 2035.[9]

Fossil fuels

Coal power

The use of coal in thermal power plants has been decreasing. In 2000 coal was still used to produce 14.25% of electricity, by 2006 this had dropped to about 10%; and in 2010 it was down to 6.3%. The last conventional coal units of the thermal power plants in Mol and Kallo were closed in March 2016.[10]

Natural gas

In 2022 gas accounted for 24.4% of gross electricity generated, with coal at 0.04%.[11] Fluxys is the main operator in natural gas transmission.

Several power stations use a combined cycle including: Drogenbos,, Tessenderlo. Building permits are being processed for plants in Seneffe and Visé.

Oil refining

At the end of 2011 Belgium had a distillation capacity 41 Mt. That year 72% of the capacity was used.[12]

Renewables

Renewable energy includes wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy sources.

In 2000, renewable energy (including biomass) was used for producing 0.95% of the 78.85 TWh of electricity produced domestically[13] This had risen to 13.01% in 2021.[14]

On 11 May 2022 7,112 MW was generated by combined wind and solar energy production.[15]

Wind power

See main article: Wind power in Belgium. At the start of 2012, there were 498 operational wind turbines in Belgium, with a capacity of 1080 MW.[16] The amount of electricity generated from wind energy has surpassed 2 TWh per year.[17] By 2021 wind power accounted for 19% of Belgium’s installed power generation capacity and 11% of total power generation.

There are seven large-scale offshore wind farm projects. Northwind (216MW), Thorntonbank Wind Farm (325 MW), Belwind Wind Farm (330 MW) are operational. The others are in various stages of planning.

EU and Belgium Wind Energy Capacity (MW)[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
NoCountry2016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998
align=left EU-27153,730141,726128,751117,384105,696 93,957 84,074 74,767 64,712 56,517 48,069 40,511 34,383 28,599 23,159 17,315 12,887 9,678 6,453
15 align=left Belgium2,3862,2181,9591,6651,375 1,078 911 563 415 287 194 167 96 68 35 32 13 6 6

Solar power

See main article: Solar power in Belgium.

The exploitation of Solar power is on the rise in Belgium. In 2021 solar accounted for 27% of Belgium’s power generation capacity and 6% of total power generation.[24]

Year Photovoltaics[25] [26] [27] [28] [29]
MWpGWhRef
200871n.a
2009574488
2010787560
20112,0511,170
20122,7682,115
20132,9832,352
20143,1402,883
20153,2523,045[30]
20163,5613,086[31]
20173,8463,149
20184,2543,563
Source: Photovoltaic Barometer

Biomass and waste

In 2009, biomass and biogas were used to generate 3.5 TWh or 3.8% of gross domestic electricity production.

In 2010 5.07 million tonnes of waste was produced in Belgium, of which 1.75 Mt was incinerated. Nearly always (99.8% of the time) energy was recovered during incineration. Non renewable waste was used for producing 1.4% of the gross domestic electricity production. 1.9 Mt was recycled and 1 Mt was composted or fermented; only 0.062 Mt was dumped.[32] Ten years earlier this was only 0.71%.[13]

Hydroelectric power

Belgium has two pumped storage hydroelectric power stations: Coo-Trois-Ponts (1164 MW) and Plate-Taille (143 MW). Pumped storage stations are a net consumer of electricity, but they contributed 1.4% to the gross electricity production in 2010.

Despite the limited potential there are also a number of stations generating hydroelectric power. With a combined capacity of about 100 MW. Contributing 0.3% of gross domestic production in 2010.

Almost all of this capacity is realised in the Walloon Region. Even though hydroelectric power was used extensively in Flanders prior to the industrial revolution, there are no rivers where it can be generated on a large scale.[33] The region's 15 installations have a combined capacity just shy of 1 MW (994 kW).[34]

Final energy consumption

In 2010 the largest share (34%) of final energy was for domestic use (this includes: households, service sector, commerce, and agriculture). Transport and industrial sector both consumed about a quarter. Fossil fuels are also used as raw material in several manufacturing processes, this non-energetic use accounts for the remainder of the final energy.

A more detailed picture of the energy and type of fuel used by various activities is given in the table below.

final energy by activity(ktoe)[35]
ElectricityNatural gasCoalOilRenewableHeatTotalShare of final energy
Domestic usage (2009)
Households 17383322264 2756231138324 20.2%
Commerce and services 1847 1728952 9 69 4605 11.2%
Agriculture 882354333525 816 2.0%
Other 9 94664 0.2%
Industrial usage (2009)
Chemical 746 1979 13149 18 3703275 7.9%
Iron and steel 447 678 578 11 1714 4.2%
Non metal minerals 168 290202269941023 2.5%
Food/beverage/tobacco 400 531 565118301086 2.6%
Printing/paper pulp 2051483315 30750 758 1.8%
Construction 110197633 370 0.9%
Non ferro metals 114 9622111 343 0.8%
Machinery 151 66 2 17 2 238 0.6%
Textile and leather 10897313212 0.5%
Transportation items 87924 183 0.4%
Wood 679103179 0.4%
Extractive industries 54 11 650.2%
Other 15242621814 432 1.0%
Transport usage (2009)
Road 8881 231 911222.1%
Air 1295 12953.1%
Rail 151 35 1860.5%
Inland navigation 165 1650.4%
Total final usage (2010)
Absolute 2010 7163 119601363 21746115664044028
Share 2010 16.3% 27.2% 3.1% 49.4% 2.6% 1.5% 100%

Brussels-Capital Region

In the Brussels-Capital Region, the electricity and natural gas net are operated by Sibelga. In 2011, the natural gas consumption was 10,480 GWh and the electricity consumption was 5,087 GWh.[36]

Sibelga invests in combined heat and power (CHP) installations for which it receives green certificates. In 2011 its eleven installations had a combined capacity of 17.8 MWe and 19.7 MWth and generated 50.5 GWh of electricity.[36]

The Region of Brussels-Capital also encourages MicroCHP[37] and implemented the European directive of 2002/91/CE on Energy Performance of Buildings.

Corporations

The companies Umicore, BASF, Solvay, Duferco,, ArcelorMittal, and Air Liquide together account for about 15% of the total electricity consumption of Belgium in 2006.[38]

Greenhouse gas emissions

See main article: Climate change in Belgium.

In 1990, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were 146.9 million tons of equivalent (Mt eq), whose 88 million tons came from the Flemish Region, 54.8 from the Walloon Region and 4 Mt from the Brussels-capital Region.[39]

Being a member of the European Union, Belgium, applied the European Union Emission Trading Scheme set up by the Directive 2003/87/EC. The Kyoto protocol sets a 7.5% reduction of greenhouse gas emission target compared to 1990. Belgium set up a National Allocation Plan at the federal level with target for each of the three regions.

Belgium takes part in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

On 14 November 2002, Belgium signed the Cooperation Agreement for the implementation of a National Climate Plan and reporting in the context of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol. The first National Allocation Plan was for the period from 2005 to 2007. The European commission approved it on 20 October 2004. The second allocation plan was for the period 2008–2012 and aims a reduction of 7.5% of green house gas emissions compared to 1990.

By 2019, the Walloon region had decreased 34% of its emissions, while Flanders had only decreased 8%.

Business

According to the Forbes list of billionaires (2011), the Belgian billionaire Wang Xingchun ($1 billion 2011) made his wealth in the coal business.[40] Wang is a resident of Singapore who holds Belgian citizenship. Wang is the chairman of Winsway Coking Coal, a company that imports coal from Mongolia to China and went public in Hong Kong in 2010.[41]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Brussels Capital Region 2022: Air, Climate and Energy . 5 October 2022.
  2. Web site: Belgium . 12 August 2023.
  3. Web site: Crude Petroleum in Belgium . March 2023.
  4. Web site: Belgium Natural Gas Security Policy . 10 August 2022.
  5. Web site: Factsheet elia. Elia. 17 November 2012. 17 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131217225247/http://www.elia.be/en/about-elia/newsroom/news/2012/~/media/files/Elia/About-Elia/News/20121004_Fact%20Sheet%20-%20EN.pdf. live.
  6. Web site: Jaarverslag 2011. FEBEG. 17 November 2012.
  7. Web site: Archived copy . 25 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717124649/http://economie.fgov.be/fr/binaries/rapport_gemix_2009_fr_tcm326-76356.pdf . 17 July 2011 . dead .
  8. 31 Januari 2003. – Wet houdende de geleidelijke uitstap uit kernenergie voor industriële elektriciteitsproductie.Web site: Belgisch Staatsblad N. 66 (jaargang 173) . nl,fr . 28 February 2003 . 17662–17665 . Belgisch Staatsblad . 25 October 2012 . 26 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141026124413/http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2003/02/28_3.pdf . live .
  9. Web site: Belgium and Engie agree on nuclear reactor extensions . . 29 June 2023.
  10. Web site: Activities and Sustainable Development Report 2010. Electrabel. 17 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231143/https://www.electrabel.com/standalone/corporate/newscorner/rac_2010_en.pdf. 3 March 2016. dead.
  11. Web site: Distribution of electricity generation in Belgium in 2022, by source . 12 August 2023.
  12. Web site: Jaarverslag 2011. Belgische Petroleum Federatie. 17 November 2012. 2. 18 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130718050109/http://www.petrolfed.be/sites/default/files/jaarverslagen/jaarverslag_2011.pdf. live.
  13. Web site: DRAFT of Belgian National Allocation Plan for CO2-emission allowances 2008–2012 . September 2006 . 21 November 2009 . 27 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100727202855/http://ec.europa.eu/environment//climat/pdf/nap_belgium_final.pdf . live .
  14. Web site: Steady rise in Belgium's renewable energy consumption in 2021 . 23 February 2023.
  15. Web site: Belgium's 2022 electricity mix: the increase in renewable energy and availability of nuclear power plants kept exports high . 6 January 2023.
  16. http://www.lalibre.be/societe/planete/article/712473/environ-500-aoliennes-en-belgique.html Environ 500 éoliennes en Belgique
  17. News: Record aan stroom uit windmolens. 5 November 2012. Gazet van Antwerpen. 8 February 2011. 17 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131217225330/http://www.gva.be/nieuws/economie/aid1016436/record-aan-stroom-uit-windmolens.aspx. live.
  18. Web site: Cumulative installed capacity per EU Member State 1998 – 2009 (MW). EWEA Staff. European Wind Energy Association. 2010. 2010-05-22. 15 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100615180111/http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/statistics/cumulative_wind_per_ms_1998_2009_ws.xls. live.
  19. Web site: EWEA Annual Statistics 2010. EWEA Staff. European Wind Energy Association. February 2011. 2011-01-31. 8 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110208065735/http://ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/statistics/EWEA_Annual_Statistics_2010.pdf. live.
  20. Web site: EWEA Annual Statistics 2011. EWEA Staff. European Wind Energy Association. February 2012. 2011-02-18. 8 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120208091756/http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/publications/statistics/Stats_2011.pdf. live.
  21. http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/files/library/publications/statistics/Wind_in_power_annual_statistics_2012.pdf Wind in power: 2012 European statistics
  22. Web site: WindEurope Annual Statistics 2016. WindEurope. Iván Pineda. 19 October 2017. windeurope.org. 19 October 2017. 31 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180831105806/https://windeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/files/about-wind/statistics/WindEurope-Annual-Statistics-2016.pdf. live.
  23. Web site: EWEA Annual Statistics 2014. EWEA. 19 October 2017. windeurope.org/. 19 October 2017. 19 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221410/https://windeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/files/about-wind/statistics/EWEA-Annual-Statistics-2014.pdf. live.
  24. Web site: Solar PV capacity in Belgium and major projects . 20 June 2023.
  25. http://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/photovoltaic_2012.pdf Photovoltaic Barometer 2012
  26. http://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/baro196.pdf Photovoltaic Barometer 2010
  27. http://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/baro202.pdf Photovoltaic Barometer 2011
  28. http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro-jdp9.pdf Photovoltaic Barometer
  29. Web site: EUROBSER'VER. Photovoltaic Barometer – installations 2012 and 2013. energies-renouvelables.org. 21 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140513225639/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro-jdp11_en.pdf. 13 May 2014. live. 5, 6.
  30. Web site: Photovoltaic barometer 2017 EurObserv'ER. www.eurobserv-er.org. 28 November 2016. 3 December 2017.
  31. Web site: Photovoltaic barometer 2018. 28 April 2018.
  32. Web site: Key Figures 2012. 18 November 2012. 13 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121113225731/http://statbel.fgov.be/en/binaries/Key%20Figures%202012_tcm327-188881.pdf. live.
  33. Web site: Kleine Waterkracht . ODE (Organisatie voor duurzame energie) . 29 November 2012 . nl . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130507125414/http://www2.vlaanderen.be/economie/energiesparen/doc/brochure_kleine_waterkracht.pdf . 7 May 2013 .
  34. Web site: Geïnstalleerd vermogen en aantal groenestroominstallaties per provincie. VREG. nl. June 2012. 29 November 2012. 18 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130618174517/http://www.vreg.be/sites/default/files/uploads/statistieken/groene_stroom/20120928-gsc_-_vermogen_en_aantal_installaties_per_provincie.pdf. live.
  35. Web site: De energiemarkt in 2009. FOD Economie, K.M.O, Middenstand en Energie. 12 November 2012. 14 November 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111114035156/http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/binaries/1585-11-01%20De%20energiemarkt%20in%202009_tcm325-140066.pdf. live.
  36. Web site: Rapport annuel 2011. Sibelga. 9 November 2012. fr. 10 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130310140217/http://www.sibelga.be/uploads/assets/250/fr/1340092765968-Sibelga-rapport-annuel-2011.pdf. live.
  37. Web site: Centre Urbain . 12 December 2009 . 6 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706133552/http://www.curbain.be/download/CONF_09.1c-09-06-24_QuelAvenirPourLaMicrocogeneration.pdf . live .
  38. http://www.solvay.com/EN/NewsPress/Documents/2006/20061011_bluesky_EN.pdf
  39. Book: Draft of Belgian National Allocation Plan for CO2-emission allowances 2008–2012 . Federal Public Service of Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment . Brussels . September 2006 . 21 November 2009 . 27 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100727202855/http://ec.europa.eu/environment//climat/pdf/nap_belgium_final.pdf . live .
  40. [Forbes list of billionaires (2011)]
  41. Web site: Forbes Billionaires 2021: The Richest People in the World. Forbes. 21 August 2021. 4 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190104180124/https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/list/3/. live.