Renewable energy in Belgium - statistics & facts
Alongside Malta, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, Belgium was one of the EU countries with the lowest energy consumption derived from renewable sources. In 2018, Belgium’s renewable consumption reached only 9.42 percent. Nonetheless, the European Union aims for around 20 percent of the energy consumed by the European population and companies to come from renewable sources in 2020. Therefore, for Belgium to reach its goal, the use of renewable energy should increase.
During the last few years, the production of renewable energy in Belgium has indeed increased. In 2018, over 3,6 thousand kilotons of oil equivalent of energy produced in the country were from renewable sources. Most of the country’s renewable power was generated by solid biofuel, wind power, and renewable municipal waste. Out of the total 3.6 thousand kilotons of renewable energy produced in Belgium, over 2,2 thousand were derived from one of these three sources. On the other hand, the production of renewable power derived from liquid biofuel or geothermal power was rather scarce in Belgium. In 2018, less than five kilotons of oil equivalent were generated by one of these renewable sources.
In 2018, the country’s imports of renewable energy amounted to 1.1 thousand kilotons of oil equivalent. In recent years, Belgium mostly imported renewable energy derived from solid biofuels and biodiesel. The country imported less than 200 kilotons of oil equivalent of power produced by biofuels in 2003, whereas imports reached 772 kilotons in 2018. In other words, biofuel was both the most produced and the most imported type of renewable energy in Belgium. On the other hand, the renewable energy exported from Belgium mainly originated from biodiesel and biofuel. In 2018, the country notably exported 150 kilotons of oil equivalent of biodiesel and 141 kilotons of biogasoline.
Although the presence of renewable energy increased in Belgium, nuclear power remained the leading source of energy. In 2018, Belgian nuclear plants produced 7.4 thousand kilotons of oil equivalent of energy, which is more than double the amount of renewable energy generated. Recently, however, the production of nuclear power decreased in Belgium.
During the last few years, the production of renewable energy in Belgium has indeed increased. In 2018, over 3,6 thousand kilotons of oil equivalent of energy produced in the country were from renewable sources. Most of the country’s renewable power was generated by solid biofuel, wind power, and renewable municipal waste. Out of the total 3.6 thousand kilotons of renewable energy produced in Belgium, over 2,2 thousand were derived from one of these three sources. On the other hand, the production of renewable power derived from liquid biofuel or geothermal power was rather scarce in Belgium. In 2018, less than five kilotons of oil equivalent were generated by one of these renewable sources.
In 2018, the country’s imports of renewable energy amounted to 1.1 thousand kilotons of oil equivalent. In recent years, Belgium mostly imported renewable energy derived from solid biofuels and biodiesel. The country imported less than 200 kilotons of oil equivalent of power produced by biofuels in 2003, whereas imports reached 772 kilotons in 2018. In other words, biofuel was both the most produced and the most imported type of renewable energy in Belgium. On the other hand, the renewable energy exported from Belgium mainly originated from biodiesel and biofuel. In 2018, the country notably exported 150 kilotons of oil equivalent of biodiesel and 141 kilotons of biogasoline.
Although the presence of renewable energy increased in Belgium, nuclear power remained the leading source of energy. In 2018, Belgian nuclear plants produced 7.4 thousand kilotons of oil equivalent of energy, which is more than double the amount of renewable energy generated. Recently, however, the production of nuclear power decreased in Belgium.
