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Belgium

 

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Current Situation
With a 4,6% renewable electricity share in its total production, Belgium is far below the European average (16.2%). Actually, renewables development has been made difficult because of a « schizophrenic » support policy. Each of Belgium’s three regions has it owns targets, its own very distinct green certificates market and implements national energy policies in its own way.

However Belgium needs to reach its target of 6% green electricity in 2010 and the European target of 13% of renewable energies for 2020. Share of renewable energies to final energy consumption was of 9.2% in 2006. Biomass, which represents only 2.1% of the country’s total production of electricity, is Belgium’s leading renewable electricity source. In 2006, solid biomass made possible to produce 1.4 TWh of electricity and 128 ktoe of gross heat.

Hydraulic resources being relatively limited, hydroelectricity does not reach very high levels. Being only the second source of renewable electricity, the most part results from pump-storage installations (78%). The most dynamic sector in Belgium is unquestionably wind power. The sector seems to be being led to great development notably thanks to offshore wind parks. The Thortonbank wind park is Belgium’s first offshore park. Located 30km from the coast, it will be constituted at completion by 50 turbines of 6MW capacity. The installation of this type of park is strongly controlled. These parks cannot be installed at less than 22km from the coast and must not be a hindrance to maritime circulation. Belgium’s offshore potential is estimated at 3 GW. Valorisation of Solid municipal waste shows a good production of 17.5toe/1,000 inhab.

Perspectives
The Energy Efficiency Action Plan of Belgium includes measures across all sectors, with some emphasis on housing and service sectors where efficiency improvements can be achieved at fairly cost-effective levels. The Flemish energy efficiency action plan includes details on the estimated savings by 2016 for the various measures and sectors; the transport sector accounts for the highest with 29%, while residential and service sector account for 25% and 22%, respectively. The action plan for the Walloon Region includes many detailed measures across all sectors. The market opening has proceeded in Belgium. Electricity and gas markets in Flanders opened to competition in July 2003. Brussels and Wallonia liberalised their markets over the past few years, although larger customers have been able choose their suppliers since July 2004. Power generation is highly concentrated with two companies responsible for 88% of generation as of the end of 2006.

Key Players
The federal authorities are the competent body for electricity and natural gas tariffs, the high voltage electricity grid with a voltage of over 70 kilovolt (kV), the storage and transport of natural gas, the production of electricity (with the exception of the production of electricity from renewable energy sources and combined heat and power systems) and nuclear power.

The regions are the competent bodies for the distribution of electricity via networks with a voltage of less than or equal to 70 kilovolt (kV), the distribution of natural gas, the production of electricity from renewable energy sources and combined heat and power systems, rational use of energy and social public service obligations.

The IBGE (Institut Bruxellois pour la gestion de l’environnement) is the administration of environment and energy of the region of Bruxelles. It carries out many studies on and controls water, waste, noise, air, soils… and deliver some environment licences. It has also some activities in the field of ecoconstruction. They give advice for individuals and professionals and can help them in some administrative processes.

The Wreg is the Flemish Regulation Entity for the Electricity and Gas market. Its remit is to create transparency within the energy market in Flanders and it does so by fostering open communication with the Flemish authorities, the actors in the market and consumers. Brugel is the equivalent organization for the region of Bruxelles. The historic supplier is Electrabel and the main supplier of electricity and gas. Electrabel is now a subsidiary of GDF Suez. The Belgian firm OWS (Organic Waste Systems) is well positioned on the market, with at the end of 2007, 16 large-size methanisation units representing a treatment capacity of nearly 524,500 tons. Both firms Essent and Nuon are important players in terms of distribution of energy.

Job demand
Given the increase in renewable penetration in Belgium, there are significant employment opportunities arising from the growth. Therefore, in addition to heading towards meeting its renewable energy targets, the Belgian Economy can directly benefit, in the future, from the implementation of a proactive renewable energy strategy.

Employment growth could occurs from the development of RES technologies in the national market, exports of RES technologies to other countries, supply of three different fuels (energy crops, forest residues and agricultural wastes) into the energy sector, be it for heat, electricity or transport.

Potential for employment in the renewable energy industry is modest, lower than in other EU countries since there is no national wind turbine manufactory in Belgium.

If we consider expected growth in national employment by technology, main sector of growth are likely to be biomass/biofuel.