The International Energy Agency is concerned about Belgium’s energy future – Environment
According to the Agency, Belgium is still too dependent on fossil fuels.
The progress made by Belgium in reducing its dependence on fossil fuels are insufficient, while the Kingdom plans to close part of the nuclear fleet by 2025, notes the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report published on Wednesday.
In 2020, Belgium still relied mainly on oil (46%) and natural gas (27%), while coal filled a small share (3%) of energy demand, points out the IEA. Although the share of renewable energies has doubled over the last decade, these (wind, bioenergy, etc.) still only covered 13% of demand in 2020. The IEA is therefore concerned about the capacity of the country to be insured its energy supply and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. “Nuclear has often accounted for almost half of annual electricity production, and the gradual abandonment of this type of energy risks leading to an accumulation of recourse to gas-fired power stations and an increase in emissions.”
The economic crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic and the energy insecurity caused by the war in Ukraine, initiated at the end of February by Russia – on which the EU depends around 40% for its gas supply – has exacerbated the problem. “L‘electrification is an essential aspect of any energy transition”, underlines the International Energy Agency. Or, “it is slowed down in Belgium by tariff structures which increase the cost of electricity. In some regions, household heating with electricity is 50% more expensive than heating with natural gas or fuel oil, even though electric heating is more efficient and less polluting. It is also necessary increase competition in the market to lower prices, which requires redoubled efforts to remove barriers so that new businesses and innovative services can enter the market,” the IEA concluded.
Wind deployment
The IEA also recommends that Belgium quickly establish how it intends to achieve (net) zero emissions by 2050, a target set by the European Union. Cleared up in this not very optimistic report: the actress effectively deployed wind power in Belgium, become “one of the foreground” in the offshore sector. In 2021, the country had the sixth largest offshore wind capacity in the world, “a major achievement given the small size and high traffic in Belgian territorial waters”.
This production is still expected to grow, while the federal government aims to quadruple offshore wind power, to 8 GW. The IEA also praises the collaboration of Belgium and the other countries bordering the North Sea to develop the wind network. Another positive point: Belgium is several years ahead of the investments needed for its gas network to cope with the upcoming closure of the Groningen gas field, in the Nederlands. The Dutch government had in fact decided on this closure for the 2030 horizon. It then announced, in February 2020, an early cessation, in the summer of 2022, of gas extraction in Groningen, because this is at the origin many earthquakes in this province in the north of the Netherlands.
The progress made by Belgium to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels is insufficient, while the Kingdom plans to close part of the nuclear fleet by 2025, notes the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report published on Wednesday. In 2020, Belgium still relied mainly on oil (46%) and natural gas (27%), while coal met a small share (3%) of energy demand, points out the OUCH. Although the share of renewable energies has doubled over the last decade, these (wind, bioenergy, etc.) still only covered 13% of demand in 2020. The IEA is therefore concerned about the capacity of the country to ensure its energy supply and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. “Nuclear has often accounted for almost half of annual electricity production, and the gradual abandonment of this type of energy risks leading to an accumulation of recourse to gas-fired power stations and an increase in emissions.” The economic crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic and the energy insecurity caused by the war in Ukraine, initiated at the end of February by Russia – on which the EU depends around 40% for its gas supply – has exacerbated the problem. “Electrification is an essential aspect of any energy transition”, underlines the International Energy Agency. Or, “it is slowed down in Belgium by tariff structures which thus increase the cost of electricity. In certain regions, household heating with electricity is 50% more expensive than with natural gas or fuel oil, even if electric heating is more efficient and less polluting. enter the market”, finish the IEA. The IEA also recommends that Belgium quickly establish how it intends to achieve (net) zero emissions by 2050, a target set by the European Union. Cleared up in this not very optimistic report: the actress effectively deployed wind power in Belgium, become “one of the foreground” in the offshore sector. In 2021, the country had the sixth largest offshore wind capacity in the world, “a major achievement given the small size and high traffic in Belgian territorial waters”. This production is still expected to grow, while the federal government aims to quadruple offshore wind power, to 8 GW. The IEA also praises the collaboration of Belgium and the other countries bordering the North Sea to develop the wind network. Another positive point: Belgium is several years ahead of the investments needed for its gas network to cope with the upcoming closure of the Groningen gas field in the Netherlands. The Dutch government had in fact decided on this closure for the 2030 horizon. It then announced, in February 2020, an early cessation, in the summer of 2022, of gas extraction in Groningen, because this is at the origin many earthquakes in this province in the north of the Netherlands.