Energy policy of Belgium
Encyclopedia
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.
Belgium is a federal state. The energy policy is mainly set by the three regions. Belgian federal government
, if in place, have jurisdiction in some areas. The federal government have responsibility of the nuclear policy - and closing the nuclear plants. Belgium is a member of the European Union
compling the energy policy of the European Union
.
is in charge of politics of global warming
.
Belgium takes part in the European Union Emission Trading Scheme
and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
. Belgium has signed the Kyoto Protocol
.
Belgium emissions in 2007 were 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita, when the EU 27 average was 7.9 tonnes per capita.
EU renewable energy targets of final energy for Belgium is 13 % by 2020.
statistics the fuels of electricity consumption in 2009 were: 53,8 % nuclear, 40,8 % fossil, 7,4 % renewable and 2 % export of production.
report commissioned by Minister Paul Magnette
was published. The report studied the energy sources for the years 2020 and 2030. It recommended not to close the old nuclear reactor
s in 2015 as previously planned. Ecolo
the French speaking green party was against keeping them after 2015.
of electricity in Belgium was 2.8% in 2006 and target 6.0% by 2010.
Belgium was an exception in the central Europe by not having feed-in tariff
FiT for wind energy
in 2007, like e.g. the Netherlands
, Denmark
, Germany
, Italy
, Spain
, France
and Portugal. Wind electricity production per inhabitant in 2009 was in Belgium 93 kWh/person compared to Spain
794, Germany
461, the Netherlands
278, Britain
138 and France
121.
Belgium had in 2007 FiT
for small installations of photovoltaic solar power
.
coming from renewable energy
.
The Flemish Region
published various Beleidsnota energie. The 2004-2009 version was published by Minister Kris Peeters
. The 2004-2009 version was published by Minister Freya Van den Bossche
,on 27 October 2009. This report was partially based on research conducted by VITO
.
The Flemish region stated five goals for the government of 2009-2014:
The government target is 9% of renewable electricity in 2014 and 13% in 2020.
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. Energy in Belgium
Energy in Belgium
Energy in Belgium describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Belgium. Energy policy of Belgium will describe the politics of Belgium related to energy more in detail. Electricity sector in Belgium is the main article of electricity in Belgium.The Kingdom of Belgium...
describes energy
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...
. 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.
Belgium is a federal state. The energy policy is mainly set by the three regions. Belgian federal government
Belgian federal government
The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...
, if in place, have jurisdiction in some areas. The federal government have responsibility of the nuclear policy - and closing the nuclear plants. Belgium is 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...
compling the energy policy of the European Union
Energy policy of the European Union
Although the European Union has legislated in the area of energy policy for many years, and evolved out of the European Coal and Steel Community, the concept of introducing a mandatory and comprehensive European energy policy was only approved at the meeting of the European Council on 27 October...
.
Climate policy
At the federal level, Minister Paul MagnettePaul 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 politics of global warming
Politics of global warming
The politics of global warming have involved corporate lobbying, funding of special interest groups and public relations campaigns by the oil and coal industries which have affected policy decisions and legislation worldwide...
.
Belgium takes part in 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...
and 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...
. Belgium 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...
.
Belgium emissions in 2007 were 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita, when the EU 27 average was 7.9 tonnes per capita.
EU renewable energy targets of final energy for Belgium is 13 % by 2020.
Electricity
Electricity was 13 % of primary energy use in 2008. According to the IEAInternational Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis...
statistics the fuels of electricity consumption in 2009 were: 53,8 % nuclear, 40,8 % fossil, 7,4 % renewable and 2 % export of production.
Nuclear power
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.
Renewable electricity
Existing share of 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...
of electricity in Belgium was 2.8% in 2006 and target 6.0% by 2010.
Belgium was an exception in the central Europe by not having feed-in tariff
Feed-in Tariff
A feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. It achieves this by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology...
FiT for wind energy
Wind energy
Wind energy is the kinetic energy of air in motion; see also wind power.Total wind energy flowing through an imaginary area A during the time t is:E = ½ m v2 = ½ v 2...
in 2007, like e.g. the Netherlands
Electricity sector in the Netherlands
The electricity sector in the Netherlands describes electricity in the Netherlands. During 2005-2008 the Netherlands imported 13-15 % of electricity. The volume of renewable electricity in 2009 was three times the volume of nuclear power. The majority is produced with fossil fuels...
, Denmark
Electricity sector in Denmark
The electricity sector in Denmark relies on fossil energy and new renewable energy: wind power, biogas, biomass and waste. Danish average consumption of electricity pro person was 0.8 GWh less than EU 15 average in 2008. Denmark invested in the wind power development in the 1970s and has been the...
, Germany
Electricity sector in Germany
The electricity sector in Germany included in the year 2009 fossil fuelled power 61 %, nuclear power 23 % and renewable energy 18 %. Germany has defined a phase-out policy of nuclear power by 2022...
, Italy
Electricity sector in Italy
The electricity sector in Italy describes electricity in Italy. Total electricity consumption was 339 TWh in 2008.According to the national plan Italy aims not to fulfill its agreed share of the renewable directive target...
, Spain
Electricity sector in Spain
The electricity sector in Spain describes electricity in Spain. In 2008 Spain consumed electricity 88 % compared to the European Union 15 average. Spain exported about 3 % of the produced electricity in 2009. The volume of renewable electricity :rose 5 % shares of the electricity use in 2009...
, France
Electricity sector in France
The electricity sector in France is the main article of electricity in France. Energy in France focus energy and electricity production, consumption and import in France. Energy policy of France will describe the politics of France related to energy more in detail.In the year 2009 electricity was...
and Portugal. Wind electricity production per inhabitant in 2009 was in Belgium 93 kWh/person compared to Spain
Wind power in Spain
Spain is the world's fourth biggest producer of wind power, after China, the United States and Germany, with an installed capacity of 19,959 megawatts at the end of 2010, a rise of 1,609 MW for the year...
794, Germany
Wind power in Germany
In 2010, the installed capacity of wind power in Germany was 27.2 GW. Wind power currently produces about seven percent of Germany’s total electrical power. More than 21,607 wind turbines are located in the German federal area and the country has plans to build more wind turbines...
461, the Netherlands
Wind power in the Netherlands
Wind power in the Netherlands has recently been used as a renewable energy source. By December 2009, 1,975 wind turbines were operational in the Netherlands, with an aggregate capacity of 2,221 MW...
278, Britain
Wind power in the United Kingdom
By mid-2011, the installed capacity of wind power in the United Kingdom was over 5.7 gigawatts and the UK is ranked as the world’s eighth largest producer of wind power. Wind power is expected to continue growing in the UK for the foreseeable future, RenewableUK estimates that more than...
138 and France
Wind power in France
France has the third largest wind resource in Europe after Germany and the United Kingdom. Électricité de France, the main French electricity generator and supplier in France plans to increase its capacity to 10 GW in the year 2010....
121.
Belgium had in 2007 FiT
Feed-in Tariff
A feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. It achieves this by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology...
for small installations of photovoltaic solar power
Solar power in the European Union
Solar power in the European UnionSolar power consists of photovoltaic and solar thermal power.During 2010, the European solar heating yield was 17.3 TWh, annual turnover 2.6 Billion € and employment 33,500 persons...
.
Biofuels
Target for biofuels was in Belgium was 5.75% by 2010. The EU Biofuels Directive (2001) requires 5.75% biofuels of transport fuels excluding aviation by December 31, 2010.Flemish Region
As of 2009, there was 3.3% of electricityElectricity
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...
coming from renewable energy
Renewable 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...
.
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 efficiencyEfficient energy useEfficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
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 target is 9% of renewable electricity in 2014 and 13% in 2020.
See also
- Energy Technology in Flanders 2010 Flemish government
- Draft of Belgian National Allocation Plan for CO2-emission allowances 2008-2012 Brussels.