Total electricity production in Belgium in 2021 was about 13.5 percent higher than in the previous year. With 93.3 TWh she reached a record level. The production of nuclear power plants in particular increased strongly, from 32.9 TWh in 2020 to 48.0 TWh, because their availability was higher. Production from gas-fired power plants decreased by 4.7 TWh to 19.1 TWh. The production of wind and solar energy remained at approximately the same level as in 2020. This is revealed today in the annual report of the CREG, the federal energy regulator.
Due to the strong increase in production and the lower increase in demand (+4.1 percent to 84.4 TWh), the export of electricity from Belgium to neighboring countries increased strongly last year, to 20.1 TWh. “This translates into a very positive net export balance,” says the CREG. Exports minus imports amounted to net 7.6 TWh last year. Exports mainly went to France and the United Kingdom.
The CREG noted that electricity prices rose explosively in all European member states to unprecedented levels in the second half of the year, under pressure from increased natural gas and CO2 prices.
On the natural gas market, gas consumption in Belgium last year remained approximately stable at 190.3 TWh compared to 2020 (190.7 TWh). The activity of the LNG terminal in Zeebrugge reached a new record level in 2021 in terms of the number of LNG boats, both for unloading and for loading, it is said. Natural gas prices rose “very strongly” in both the short-term and long-term markets last year, especially in the last three months of the year.
The evolution of electricity and natural gas prices was therefore central to the concerns, reflections and actions of the CREG, says Koen Locquet, acting chairman of the management committee. “For example, the CREG was one of the first regulators to make a detailed analysis of the causes of the price increase and to propose measures to the federal government to limit the consequences for consumers. Most of these measures were accepted by the government.”
Forty solar panels and yet baker sees his energy bill quadruple: “Prefer not to pass these costs on to my customers” (+)
In the summer you use a lot less energy: is it smart to lower your advance bill?
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.