At the forefront of the energy transition
Belgium has set a clear energy target: it wants to achieve 100% renewable energy and climate neutrality by 2050. As the European continent is facing a war, Belgium has decided to accelerate its energy independence, especially when it comes to fossil fuels by focusing on renewable energies and taking control over its short term energy needs through the prolongation 2 nuclear power plants for 10 years.
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Green electricity for all Belgian’s
Fries, chocolates, and beer. These are perhaps the first words that come to mind when you mention Belgium. But we are proud to add another national asset to the list: offshore wind.
Undoubtedly, Belgium is a pioneer in offshore wind energy. In recent years, our country has become the second country in the world in terms of offshore capacity per capita, behind Denmark but ahead of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany. Belgian wind farms in the North Sea currently produce 2.26 GW of offshore energy.
The objective set by the Belgian authorities is to triple this production by 2030 to reach 6 GW. It will then be possible to supply every Belgian household with electricity generated in the North Sea with a further expansion to 8 GW scheduled by 2040.
In addition, Belgium has decided to install its first experimental floating solar infrastructure in its existing wind parks, to further optimize the potential of our North Sea.
Belgian companies are now recognized worldwide for their expertise in the area of offshore wind power. Flagship companies such as Deme, Parkwind, Elicio, Jan de Nul, Otary or GeoXYZ to name but a few have been awarded contracts to build large offshore wind farms around the world; from Japan to the United States via Scotland or France.
Thanks to the contribution from the European recovery plan, Belgium can also boast a world first: by 2026, it will have built the very first energy island in the North Sea connecting its own wind farms and interconnections before sending power to the mainland.
Hydrogen for our jobs and industry
In addition to green wind energy produced in the North Sea, Belgium is now ramping up its hydrogen ambitions. This should promote the ecological transition of our heavy industry. In support of this move, Belgium adopted its first federal hydrogen strategy in October 2021.
This strategy is based on 4 pillars and aims to position Belgium at the heart of the European hydrogen industry by focusing on the same assets that have allowed it to play a key role in the European LNG industry in recent decades: a central position, world-class ports (Antwerp and Zeebrugge) and the deployment of a pipeline network capable of supplying a large part of Europe.
At the same time, the aim is to position Belgium as a pioneer in hydrogen technologies for example through electrolysers with a company like John Cockerill and to create a robust hydrogen market by implementing an open-access hydrogen backbone and encouraging the various stakeholders (industries, regions, neighbouring countries and exporting third countries) to join forces and know-how.
Thanks to hydrogen, European industry will succeed in its energy transition while controlling its costs, which is crucial for sectors such as steel, glass, aluminium, plastics and cement.
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Nuclear power to boost our independence
As the European continent is facing a war, Belgium has decided to accelerate its energy independence, especially when it comes to fossil fuels by focusing on renewable energies and taking control over its short term energy needs through the prolongation of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear power plants for 10 years. This extension involves the creation of a new company in which the Belgian State will be a 50% shareholder alongside Engie. This will secure the production of 2GW of energy per year between 2025 and 2035.
In light of the geopolitical context and with the strategic autonomy in mind Belgium intends to take advantage of all the nuclear expertise that has been developed historically in our country by furthering our research into a new generation of small modular reactors (SMRs) which offer considerable advantages: they are deemed to be safer, smaller and modular. A budget of EUR 100 million has been made available to SCK CEN to continue research in this area, enabling Belgium to secure a position in a future technology that will help strengthening our independence from fossil fuels and contribute to Belgium's objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Belgium also intends to take advantage of all the nuclear expertise that has been developed historically in our country by furthering our research into a new generation of small modular reactors (SMRs) which offer considerable advantages: they are deemed to be safer, smaller and modular. A budget of EUR 100 million has been made available to SCK CEN to launch research in this area, enabling Belgium to secure a position in a future technology that will strengthen our independence from fossil fuels and contribute to Belgium's objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.