Energy in Belgium
Encyclopedia
World energy resources and consumption
]World energy consumption in 2010: over 5% growthEnergy markets have combined crisis recovery and strong industry dynamism. Energy consumption in the G20 soared by more than 5% in 2010, after the slight decrease of 2009. This strong increase is the result of two converging trends...
and electricity
Electricity generation
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
production, consumption and import in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Energy policy of Belgium
Energy policy of Belgium
Energy policy of Belgium describes the politics of Belgium related to energy. Energy in Belgium describes energy and electricity production. consumption and import in Belgium. Electricity sector in Belgium is the main article of electricity in Belgium....
will describe the politics of Belgium
Politics of Belgium
Politics of Belgium takes place in a framework of a federal, parliamentary, representative democratic, constitutional monarchy, whereby the King of the Belgians is the Head of State and the Prime Minister of Belgium is the head of government in a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by...
related to energy more in detail. Electricity sector in Belgium
Electricity sector in Belgium
The electricity sector in Belgium describes electricity in Belgium. Production by power source in 2009 was 53 % nuclear, 40 % fossil electricity and 7 % renewable electricity. 2 % of production was exported in 2009. In 2008 import was 11 %. Belgium is highly nuclear dependent country where the...
is the main article of electricity in Belgium.
The Kingdom of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
produces over half of its electricity through nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
. Belgium is a federal state. The energy policy is mainly set by the three regions (for example green certificate
Green certificate
A Green Certificate - terminology used in Europe - also known as Renewable Energy Certificates in the USA, are a tradable commodity proving that certain electricity is generated using renewable energy sources. Typically one certificate represents generation of 1 Megawatthour of electricity...
s) but the federal government has jurisdiction in some areas, including the country's nuclear policy - namely keeping or closing the Belgium's two nuclear plants. As for other member countries, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
sets general policies such as the European Union Emission Trading Scheme
European Union Emission Trading Scheme
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme also known as the European Union Emissions Trading System, was the first large emissions trading scheme in the world. It was launched in 2005 to combat climate change and is a major pillar of EU climate policy...
. Belgium takes part in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992...
and has signed the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
. At the federal level, Minister Paul Magnette
Paul Magnette
Paul Magnette is a Belgian politician for the PS and former political science professor at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles ....
is in charge of climate change.
The companies Blue Sky, Umicore
Umicore
Umicore N.V. is a multinational materials technology company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Formed in 1989 by the merger of four companies in the mining and smelting industries, Umicore has since reshaped itself into a more technology-focused business encompassing such areas as the refining...
, BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
, Solvay
Solvay (company)
Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company with its head office in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium. It was founded in 1863 by Ernest Solvay to produce sodium carbonate by the solvay process. Since then the company has diversified to two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics...
, Duferco, Tessenderlo
Tessenderlo
Tessenderlo is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. It is where the three Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and Antwerp meet at the front gate of the Averbode Abbey. The municipality Tessenderlo encompasses the villages of Tessenderlo proper, Schoot, Engsbergen,...
, ArcelorMittal, and Air Liquide
Air Liquide
L'Air Liquide S.A., or Air Liquide , is a major French company supplying industrial gases and services to various industries including medical, chemical and electronic manufacturers. Founded in 1902, it is first in the world market in its field, now operating in over 80 countries. It is...
together account for 15% of the total energy consumption of Belgium.
Overview
| Energy in Belgium | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capita | Prim. energy | Production | Import | Electricity | CO2-emission | |
| Million | TWh | TWh | TWh | TWh | Mt | |
| 2004 | 10.42 | 671 | 157 | 605 | 89 | 116 |
| 2007 | 10.62 | 663 | 167 | 603 | 92 | 106 |
| 2008 | 10.71 | 681 | 169 | 656 | 91 | 111 |
| 2009 | 10.79 | 665 | 178 | 577 | 85 | 101 |
| Change 2004-2009 | 3.6 % | -0.8 % | 13.2 % | -4.7 % | -4.5 % | -13.2 % |
| Mtoe = 11.63 TWh. Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear power | ||||||
Own energy production was 25 % compared to primary energy use in 2008.
Greenhouse gas emissions
In 1990, the greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
(GHG) emissions were 146.9 million tons of equivalent
Carbon dioxide equivalent
Carbon dioxide equivalent and Equivalent carbon dioxide are two related but distinct measures for describing how much global warming a given type and amount of greenhouse gas may cause, using the functionally equivalent amount or concentration of carbon dioxide as the reference.- Global warming...
(Mt eq), whose 88 millions tons came from the Flemish Region
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, 54.8 from the Walloon Region and 4 Mt from the Brussels-capital Region.
Being a member of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, applied the European Union Emission Trading Scheme
European Union Emission Trading Scheme
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme also known as the European Union Emissions Trading System, was the first large emissions trading scheme in the world. It was launched in 2005 to combat climate change and is a major pillar of EU climate policy...
set up by the Directive 2003/87/EC. The Kyoto protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
sets a 7.5 % reduction of greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emission target compared to 1990. Belgium set up a National Allocation Plan at the federal level with target for each of the three regions.
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
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
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.
Electricity
ElectrabelElectrabel
Electrabel is a Belgium-based energy corporation. It is a subsidiary of GDF Suez.-History:Electrabel was established in 1905. Its actual name originates from 1990, after the regrouping of the companies Intercom, Ebes and Unerg....
is main producer of electricity. Elia System Operator
Elia System Operator
Elia System Operator SA is an electric power transmission system operator of Belgium.-History:Elia was created as a result of the legal unbundling in the electricity market. On 28 June 2001, Elia became the independent limited liability company. It was appointed as the federal transmission system...
is the company that transports electiricity and there are local companies (that may be public, private of public and private) that manage the local grid. Some of the electricity is produced domestically, some is imported. Belgium also exports electricity to its neighbours.
In 2000, Belgium produced 78,85 TWh
TWH
TWH or twh could refer to:*Tennessee Walking Horse, a breed of horse* Toronto Western Hospital, a hospital in Toronto, Canada* TWH Bus & Coach, a bus company in Romford, England* Terrawatt-hour, measure of electrical energy, 1012 watt-hours...
.
Nuclear energy
In 2000, nuclear powerNuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
contributed to 58.24% of the 78.85 TWh (total rate: 9 GWe) produced domestically.
As of 2006, about 56% of electricity comes from nuclear energy.
Belgium has two nuclear power plants:
- Nuclear Plant DoelNuclear Plant DoelThe Doel Nuclear Power Station is one of the two nuclear power plants in Belgium. The plant lies on the bank of the Scheldt, near the village of Doel in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The Belgian energy corporation Electrabel is the plant's largest stakeholder...
with four reactors of 392, 433, 1006 and 1008 MWe (1975) - Nuclear Plant TihangeNuclear Plant TihangeThe Tihange Nuclear Power Station, along with Doel Nuclear Power Station, is one of the two large-scale nuclear power plants in Belgium. It is located on the right bank of the Meuse River in the Belgian district of Tihange, part of Huy municipality in the Walloon province of Liège...
with three reactors of 962, 1008 and 1015 MWe (1975)
By law (the "Wet op de kernuitstap") the nuclear power plants are scheduled to close in 2014, but it is widely assumed that the government will replace that law.
Nuclear power debate
In October 2009, the final version of GEMIXGEMIX
The GEMIX is a report, completed on September 30, 2009 and published on 9 October 2009, and commissioned by the Belgian Minister Paul Magnette. The complete title in French is Quel mix énergétique idéal pour la Belgique :Analyse aux horizons 2020 et 2030 ?...
report commissioned by Minister Paul Magnette
Paul Magnette
Paul Magnette is a Belgian politician for the PS and former political science professor at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles ....
was published. The report studied the energy sources for the years 2020 and 2030. It recommended not to close the old nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
s in 2015 as previously planned. Ecolo
Ecolo
Ecolo is a French-speaking Belgian green political party in Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...
the French speaking green party was against keeping them after 2015.
As of November 2009, the plants may work till 2025, and GDF Suez
GDF Suez
GDF Suez S.A. is a French multinational energy company which operates in the fields of electricity generation and distribution, natural gas and renewable energy. The world's largest utility after taking control of Britain's International Power, the company was initially formed by the merger of Gaz...
may pay over 200 million a year to the Belgian government.
Gas
In 2000, GasGas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
was used for producing 23.07% of the 78,85 TWh of electricity produced domestically
As of 2006, gas thermal plants produces about 25% of Belgium electricity.
Combined cycle
Here is a list of some location of plants (some are in construction): DrogenbosDrogenbos
Drogenbos is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality only comprises the town of Drogenbos proper. On January 1, 2006 Drogenbos had a total population of 4,876. The total area is 2.49 km² which gives a population density of 1,957 inhabitants per...
, Amercoeur, Tessenderlo
Tessenderlo
Tessenderlo is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. It is where the three Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and Antwerp meet at the front gate of the Averbode Abbey. The municipality Tessenderlo encompasses the villages of Tessenderlo proper, Schoot, Engsbergen,...
. Building permits are processed for plants in Seneffe
Seneffe
Seneffe is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Seneffe had a total population of 10,743. The total area is 62.77 km² which gives a population density of 171 inhabitants per km²....
and Visé
Visé
Visé is a Walloon municipality and city of Belgium, where it is located on the river Meuse, in the province of Liège.The municipality consists of the former municipalities of Visé, Lanaye, Lixhe, Richelle, Argenteau and Cheratte....
,
Coal
In 2000, coalCoal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
was used for producing 14.25% of the 78,85 TWh of electricity produced domestically
As of 2006, about 10% of electricity comes from coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
.
Oil
In 2000, oilOil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
was used for producing 1.41% of the 78,85 TWh of electricity produced domestically
Waste
In 2000, wasteWaste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
was used for producing 0.71% of the 78,85 TWh of electricity produced domestically
Renewable energy potential
In 2000, renewable energyRenewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
was used for producing 0.71% of the 78.85 TWh of electricity produced domestically
According to the GEMIX
GEMIX
The GEMIX is a report, completed on September 30, 2009 and published on 9 October 2009, and commissioned by the Belgian Minister Paul Magnette. The complete title in French is Quel mix énergétique idéal pour la Belgique :Analyse aux horizons 2020 et 2030 ?...
report, published on 9 October 2009 and commissioned by the Minister Paul Magnette
Paul Magnette
Paul Magnette is a Belgian politician for the PS and former political science professor at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles ....
, the off-shore wind potential is 17 TWh per year. Edora, the union of renewable energy producers in Wallonia refers to studies claiming that 7.8 TWh
TWH
TWH or twh could refer to:*Tennessee Walking Horse, a breed of horse* Toronto Western Hospital, a hospital in Toronto, Canada* TWH Bus & Coach, a bus company in Romford, England* Terrawatt-hour, measure of electrical energy, 1012 watt-hours...
may come from renewable in 2015.
Wind power
Currently there are more than 200 onshore wind turbines throughout Belgium, having a capacity of nearly 300 MW (170 MW in the Flemish Region and 130 MW in the Walloon Region).On Monday 23 November 2009, the share of electricity from wind power peaked at 554 MW, when the national consumption was 5,614 MW. That day, Flemish onshore production was 235 MW, Flemish offshore production 30 MW and Walloon production was 279 MW.
Several large-scale offshore wind farms are being built off the Belgian coast : Thorntonbank Wind Farm
Thorntonbank Wind Farm
The Thorntonbank Wind Farm is an offshore wind farm, off the Belgian coast, in water ranging from deep. Electricity production started in early 2009, with a capacity of 30 MW...
(300 MW), Belwind Wind Farm (330 MW), Eldepasco (216 MW) and North of Bligh Bank (600 MW).
Solar power
The number of solar power installations increased four times, it went from 16,000 at the end of 2008 to 65,000 at the end of 2009. At the end of 2009, the installed power was about 220 MWAs of December 2009, there were 35,500 solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
installation in the Flemish region( The Vreg expected that it will reach 50,000 at the end of 2009. ), 17,000 solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
installation in the Walloon region and 7,000 in the Brussels Capital Region.
Installed capacity of solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
has increased enormously since 2007.
| Year | Capacity in Flanders | Household installations |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 47 MWp | one household per 250 |
| 2007 | 14 MWp | one household per 800 |
| 2006 | 3.6 MWp | |
| 2005 | 1.9 MWp | |
| 2004 | 1 MWp |
As of 31 December 2009, the capacity in the Walloon region is 64 MWp
As of 30 September 2009, in the Flemish region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
, there were 35 444 installations that received green certificate
Green certificate
A Green Certificate - terminology used in Europe - also known as Renewable Energy Certificates in the USA, are a tradable commodity proving that certain electricity is generated using renewable energy sources. Typically one certificate represents generation of 1 Megawatthour of electricity...
s for In 2008, there were 12 703 installations in the Flemish region
In October 2009, the city of Antwerp announced that they want to install 2,500 m² of solar panels on roofs of public building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
s, that will be worth 265,000 kwh per annum.
In 2009, the city of Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
has installed 1,810 solar panels on public buildings.
In December 2009, Katoen Natie
Katoen Natie
Katoen Natie is an international logistics service provider and port operator. The company is present in 28 countries in five continents and employs about 9300 people worldwide. In 2009 the company had 154 logistics platforms...
announced that they will install 800,000 m² of solar panels in various places, including Antwerp. It is expected that the installed solar power in the Flemish Region will be increased by 25%, when finished. That will be the largest installation in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The total cost will be 166 million euros. The installation produces about 35 GWh yearly.
In 2011, it became clear that Flemish subsidies for solar panels were too high, and people without solar panels would have to pay a higher electricity bill (up to € 148 extra) to pay for those subsidies. Flemish minister for Energy Freya van den Bossche
Freya Van den Bossche
Freya Van den Bossche is a Belgian, Flemish politician and daughter of prominent former Belgian politician Luc Van den Bossche. She is member of the SP.a political party, and she was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget and Consumer Protection in the Belgian federal government...
admitted that subsidies were too high, especially for large-scale installations.
Flemish Region
As of 2009, renewable energyRenewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
accounted for 3.3% of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
produced in Flanders.
The Flemish Region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
published various Beleidsnota energie. The 2004-2009 version was published by Minister Kris Peeters
Kris Peeters
Kris Peeters is a Flemish politician and member of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party who is currently Minister-President of Flanders, the northern region of Belgium....
. The 2004-2009 version was published by Minister Freya Van den Bossche
Freya Van den Bossche
Freya Van den Bossche is a Belgian, Flemish politician and daughter of prominent former Belgian politician Luc Van den Bossche. She is member of the SP.a political party, and she was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget and Consumer Protection in the Belgian federal government...
,on 27 October 2009. This report was partially based on research conducted by VITO
Vito
Vito is an Italian name of disputed origin, usually thought to originate from Latin "vita", meaning "life",, and also corresponding to the English and French Guy , or Italian and Spanish Guido...
.
The Flemish region stated five goals for the government of 2009-2014:
- increase energy efficiency of buildings, processes, machines,processes, products and services
- reduce the energy intensityEnergy intensity]Energy intensity is a measure of the energy efficiency of a nation's economy. It is calculated as units of energy per unit of GDP.* High energy intensities indicate a high price or cost of converting energy into GDP....
- increase decentralized production
- secure electricity and gas at low prices
- ensure that the energy remains available and affordable for the poor.
The government wants to have 9% of electricity coming from renewable in 2014 and 13% in 2020.
Brussels-Capital Region
In the Brussels-Capital Region, the electricity and gaz net are operated by Sibelga. In 2008, the gas consumption was 10,511,433 MWhMWH
MWH may stand for:* International Air Transport Association airport code for Grant County International Airport* MWH Global, an international water engineering consultancy* Men Without Hats, a Canadian New Wave band...
and the electricity consumption
Electricity consumption
Electric energy consumption is the form of energy consumption that uses electric energy.- Overview :Consumption of electric energy is measured by W·h :^)....
was 5,261,799 MWh. The electricitity consumption by municipality is given in the next table.
| Bruxelles | 1,796,205 |
| Anderlecht | 425,304 |
| Ixelles | 320,020 |
| Schaerbeek | 298,266 |
| Uccle | 263,834 |
| Evere | 254,904 |
| Woluwe-Saint-Lambert | 247,943 |
| Saint-Josse-ten-Noode | 231,432 |
| Saint-Gilles | 217,816 |
| Molenbeek-Saint-Jean | 209,512 |
| Etterbeek | 176,513 |
| Forest | 150,433 |
| Jette | 146,997 |
| Auderghem | 135,407 |
| Woluwe-Saint-Pierre | 120,191 |
| Watermael-Boitsfort | 102,094 |
| Berchem-Sainte-Agathe | 69,186 |
| Ganshoren | 53,914 |
| Koekelberg | 41,825 |
As of 2009, there were CHP
Coal preparation plant
A coal preparation plant is a facility that washes coal of soil and rock, preparing it for transport to market. A CPP may also be called a "coal handling and preparation plant" , "prep plant," "tipple," or "wash plant"....
for 25 MWe
MWE
MWE may refer to:*Manufacturer's Weight Empty*McDermott Will & Emery*Midwest Express, an airline*Merowe Airport - IATA code*Multiword expressionMWe may refer to:*Megawatt electrical...
. In 2008, Sibelga gave subsidies for a total output of 18.3 MWe an 20 MWth. The total electric output in 2008, for these CHP installations was 611.6 MWhe.
The Region of Brussels-Capital has also implemented the European directive of 2002/91/CE on Energy Performance of Buildings.
Business
According to Forbes list of billionaires (2011) in Belgium billionaire Wang Xingchun ($1 B 2011) has made his wealth in coalCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
business. Wang is a resident of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
who holds a Belgian citizenship. Wang is chairman of minerals concern Winsway Coking Coal, an importer of coal to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
from Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
that went public in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
2010.