Solar power in Belgium

Belgium had 4,254 MW of solar power generating 3,563 GWh of electricity in 2018. In 2015 PV solar power accounted for around 4% of Belgium's total electricity demand, the 4th highest penetration figure in the world, although the country is some way behind the leaders Germany, Italy and Greece at between 7% and 8% of electricity demand. Installed capacity grew at an outstanding pace from 2008 until 2012, but growth then slowed to a steady pace before the large increases in 2022. Almost all of solar power in Belgium is grid connected.

Timeline

2007

Installed capacity of solar power increased drastically after 2007. During 2009 the amount of solar installations quadrupled from 16,000 to 65,000. Residential and small installations had a combined power of about 220 MWp.

2009

In December 2009, there were 35,500 solar power installations in the Flemish region, 17,000 in Wallonia and 7,000 in the Brussels Capital Region. The number of installations in the Flemish region in particular was expanding rapidly at that time due to a favourable support measure expiring at the end of the year.

2011

At the end of 2011 the bulk of photovoltaic capacity was installed in the Flemish Region (88%), the remaining 12% was found mostly in Wallonia. The smaller Brussels-Capital Region had an installed capacity of 7 MWp.

2013

In 2013, Belgium's watt per capita distribution, the total installed photovoltaic capacity per inhabitant, amounted to 267 watts. This was the third highest per-capita figure in the European Union—and therefore also in the world at that time—just behind Germany (447 watts) and Italy (295 watts). In terms of the overall installed capacity of 2,983 MW, Belgium ranked tenth and belonged to the Top 10 leading photovoltaic countries in the world.

2014

In the afternoon of 20 March 2014, a new record of peak electricity generation was achieved. According to the power supplier Eneco Energie, more than two gigawatts of electric power, corresponding to two full-sized nuclear power plants, were generated by solar PV and supplied more than 20 percent of the overall electricity consumption at the time.

2015

In 2015, solar PV per capita amounted to 287 watts, the third highest in the world after Germany and Italy, providing around 4% of Belgium's total electricity demand.

2016

Solar PV per capita grew to 302.8 watts, remaining the third highest in the EU.

2020

Between 2010 and 2020, renewable electricity production nearly tripled, rising from 5.4 terawatt-hours (TWh) to 23.4 TWh. Solar PV generation experienced significant growth as well, increasing its share of total electricity generation from 0.6% to 5.8% over the same timeframe.

2022

In March 2022, a EUR 1.2 billion initiative was launched to increase renewable electricity production. This initiative funds solar photovoltaic (PV) installations at national railway stations, equipped with electric vehicle (EV) smart charging, and on federal buildings. It also supports the development of large-scale floating solar PV projects. To further encourage the use of solar PV, the initiative includes a reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) on solar PV panels to 6% for the years 2022 and 2023. Additionally, it streamlines the process for obtaining permits and licenses for onshore solar PV projects.

OVAM, the public waste agency of the Flemish-speaking macro-region of Flanders, has created an online map of the region's 2,500 landfills. They cover a total surface area of more than 100 square kilometers. The agency said most of the sites are currently inactive. Only 2% of the region's waste is being brought to such locations.