In a letter to the federal government, grid operator Elia says that more sparing use of our remaining nuclear fuel is necessary to meet our domestic electricity needs for the next three to four winters. Without additional measures, the ‘worst case’ shortage threatens to rise to 1.2 gigawatts by the winter of 2025 – the equivalent of 10% of total Belgian electricity consumption.
On Friday, the federal core cabinet will consider the new risk analysis of the power grid operator. In that letter Elia pleads for ‘nuclear modulation’. That is a difficult term to say that the remaining nuclear fuel must be used more sparingly to bridge the next three or four winters. This can be done, for example, by having the five remaining nuclear reactors run less during the summers and more during the winters. Currently, the existing power plants are scheduled to close in 2025. But energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) had also previously proposed investigating such a route of a ‘fuel extension’.
Power shortage
After Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) and Minister Van Der Straeten (Green) reached an interim agreement with Engie at the beginning of January, the federal government asked the grid operator Elia for a new risk assessment. After all, the war in Ukraine and the failure of nuclear power plants in France will continue to complicate the power supply in the coming years. The federal government therefore wants to build in extra security for the future.
It is striking that Elia speaks of a growing power shortage that will already rise to almost two gigawatts by the winter of 2025: at the end of 2025, which is also the time when the three other functioning nuclear power plants Doel 1, Doel 2 and Tihange 1 will close. The letter may therefore be a reason to revive the debate within the government about the extension of those three existing nuclear power plants.
Core extension
Sources within nuclear producer Engie do not rule out such a core extension by definition, provided that an agreement is first reached on the two newest power stations, Doel 4 and Tihange 3. And the clock is ticking mercilessly for this: Elia warns that the federal government will therefore to reach a final agreement with Engie in March. Otherwise, it will be practically impossible to actually complete the planned restart of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 by the end of 2026. From then on, they would produce extra electricity for ten years and thus help to ensure our energy supply.
LOOK. After 40 years, Tihange 2 will close permanently.
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