In 2024, Belgium experienced a remarkable shift in its energy mix. Thanks to favorable prices in France, our country imported more electricity than ever before. But what is behind this change?
France Becomes a Key Power Supplier
Figures from grid operator Elia show that Belgium imported approximately 13.2% of its electricity from abroad in 2024. This is a significantly higher percentage than in previous years.
The main reason for this is the cheaper electricity from France, where nuclear power plants were running efficiently. Due to their high production capacity, they were able to provide affordable electricity to neighboring countries like Belgium. This reduced Belgium’s reliance on its own, often more expensive, production.
With a total consumption of 80.5 terawatt-hours (TWh), 87% was locally produced. However, the share of foreign imports grew due to economic advantages.
Gas Plants in Freefall Due to High Gas Prices
A striking consequence of the cheaper French electricity was the decrease in the use of Belgian gas plants. In 2023, gas plants were still responsible for more than a quarter of Belgium’s electricity production, but this dropped to 17.6% in 2024—a historic low.
The reason for this is simple: gas remained expensive. Since electricity from French nuclear plants was cheaper, Belgium switched to imports. Gas plants are often used as flexible backups, but due to high gas prices, they became financially less attractive to operate.
This trend presents Belgium with a challenge. Although gas plants are less environmentally friendly, they play a crucial role during peak energy consumption periods. Finding alternatives for this backup capacity will become more important as gas plants are pushed further out of the market.
Record-Breaking Growth in Renewable Energy
While Belgium’s dependence on imported electricity grows, significant strides are also being made in renewable energy production. Solar energy, in particular, had a record year. The total production from solar panels reached 8.3 TWh, a 16% increase compared to 2023.
This growth can be attributed to the installation of new solar panels, which increased the total capacity by 23%. The share of renewable energy in Belgium’s energy mix rose to nearly 30%. This signifies that Belgium is gradually moving away from fossil fuels, though there is still a long way to go before fully transitioning to green energy.
Wind power and hydroelectricity also contribute to sustainability, but solar energy remains the fastest-growing source.
Electricity Prices Drop, but Negative Prices Remain Rare
Good news for consumers: the average electricity price in Belgium dropped by 28% to €70 per megawatt-hour in 2024. This is a significant improvement compared to the peak of the energy crisis in 2022, when prices were above €300 per megawatt-hour.
This price drop is due to lower gas prices and the cheap French electricity. However, electricity is still more expensive than before the energy crisis, indicating that the market has not fully recovered.
Additionally, negative electricity prices occurred nearly 5% of the time, especially on days with high solar and wind production. This means that during these times, electricity production exceeded demand, causing suppliers to pay to offload excess energy.
While negative prices are an interesting development, they remain relatively rare. To take full advantage of this, more businesses and households would need to invest in battery systems to store surplus energy.
Conclusion: The Belgian Energy Market Remains Dynamic
The Belgian energy market continues to evolve. Thanks to cheaper imports, Belgium is less dependent on its own production, but this also brings new challenges. Gas plants are losing ground, renewable energy is growing rapidly, and electricity prices are finally dropping.
The future looks promising for solar energy and other renewable sources. However, Belgium will need to continue investing in solutions to ensure energy security, especially with the planned closure of nuclear plants in 2025.
