Belgium will not meet the green energy target in 2020. Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) announced this on Tuesday in her policy statement in the Chamber. All entities together had to achieve 13 percent. Flanders, among others, previously announced that it would not achieve the target imposed by Europe. There is a threat of an invoice of tens of millions.
–
Largest shortage in Flanders
This year, Belgium had to obtain 13 percent of its energy from Europe from renewable sources. That does not work, we are stranded at 11.68 percent. Flanders has the greatest shortage with 1,800 GWh. The deficit for the federal government is 1,550 GWh and that for Brussels 150 GWh. Wallonia is the only country with a surplus of 1,465 GWh.
“The legacy of the previous government will cost us dearly,” says current minister Tinne Van der Straeten. “Due to the half-hearted energy policy and the permanent uncertainty, there was insufficient investment in new green electricity production. I am now putting an end to that indecision. Short-sightedness is what got us in this situation, vision and expertise is what gets us back on track. The direction is now very clear, which means a relief for investors in green energy: finally there is certainty. ”
Bought difference
The difference must be ‘bought’ in statistics from other European countries that do produce sufficient green energy. According to Van der Straeten, the cost can amount to 31 million euros for the federal level. Flanders already decided in October to buy up Danish surpluses for 22.5 million euros.
At the beginning of this year, former Energy Minister Marie Christine Marghem (MR) made it clear that we would achieve the target. She then pointed out that wind farms still needed to be completed. The amount of wind could also play in our favor.
Short-sighted
“Our citizens and companies should not be the victims of the half-hearted policies of the previous governments,” says Van der Straeten. “Short-sightedness is what got us in this situation, vision is what gets us back on track. We do not do this by lowering the targets, but by increasing the ambition. With offshore wind, a federal competence, Belgium is a world player and it is our ambition to further strengthen this in the coming period so that our country can make up the current deficit as quickly as possible and achieve its target in the future. ”
