The federal energy watchdog Creg has warned the House Energy Committee that the need for 1,000 megawatts of extra capacity to light the lights in 2026 threatens to cost our country another 750 million euros.
In the Energy Committee of the House, the Creg management committee provided text and explanation for their advice of 1 February on the ‘proposal of auction parameters in Elia’s grid operator report for the Y-4 auction in 2022 with delivery period 2026-2027’. In that report, high-voltage operator Elia calculates how much production capacity is needed to be able to supply sufficient power in the winter of 2026-2027.
At the beginning of February, the Creg had drawn up a critical report on those figures from Elia. The intention was to keep it internal, but it leaked out anyway.
According to the Creg, Elia’s figures should show that at least 1,000 MW of additional capacity would be needed compared to the winter of 2025-2026. If the government sticks to the nuclear phase-out, this would amount to the construction of one to two additional gas-fired power stations on top of the two plants that have already been decided. At the same time, according to the Creg, there was a need for additional information from Elia in order to be able to assess this as a regulator.
Need for 1,000 MW extra capacity
In the meantime, the Creg received additional information from Elia, but still insufficient, according to Andreas Tirez, member of the regulator’s executive committee. “The additional information from Elia is not such that we have to adjust our proposal.” In other words: according to the regulator, Elia’s estimate would show that there is a need for 1,000 MW of extra capacity. “We maintain that this could lead to one or maybe two additional gas plants,” said Tirez.
According to the Creg, 1,000 MW of extra capacity would saddle consumers with an additional cost of 750 million euros over a period of 15 years. Tirez: “Potentially, such amounts are at stake. Where does that 1,000 MW come from? This is a strong increase for which no explanation can be found in the grid operator’s report”.
The Creg therefore calls for additional information from Elia, in particular about the climatic years on which the high-voltage operator bases its calculations. According to the regulator, the Creg screens with complex calculations and confidentiality clauses.
“It is unacceptable that Elia does not give all the figures”
Remarkable was the urgent request from several committee members – both majority and opposition – to Elia to provide the Creg with all the necessary information. “It is unacceptable that Elia does not provide all the figures,” said Thierry Warmoes (PVDA). A call shared by Bert Wollants (N-VA) and Marie-Christine Marghem (MR). “We call on Elia to provide all the data so that the Creg can do its job.”
The regulator also returned to the commotion that had arisen after the Creg’s report on Elia appeared on the regulator’s site for a weekend, before disappearing again. That turned out to be the result of internal miscommunication, it said. “There was no external influence involved,” said Laurent Jacquet, member of the executive committee of the Creg. “The Creg is functioning”. he assured.
Also read:
The revenue model behind successful group energy purchases: bringing in many customers at once, but above all hoping that they will stay longer than a year †
More and more people can no longer pay energy bills: “A new generation of poor is emerging” †
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.