Belgium has never exported so much electricity as in 2021. This is partly due to the nuclear power plants, which have been running at full speed.
–
Last year 59 percent more electricity was exported than in 2020, according to the annual figures of high-voltage grid operator Elia. The output accounted for 21.7 terawatt hours (TWh). Net – exports minus imports – it came down to 6.6 TWh, an unprecedented figure. The power consumption in our country fluctuates around 80 TWh.
Electricity exports from Belgium have been increasing for several years now. This has a lot to do with the nuclear power stations of Doel and Tihange. Over the past decade, Belgian nuclear reactors have been repeatedly shut down for long periods, with the result that our country has become dependent on electricity imports to cover consumption. The fact that the power stations were able to operate again for most of the year, in combination with the continuous increase in green energy production from wind and solar, means that Belgium now has more than enough electricity.
Green energy records too
In 2021, as in 2020, several renewable energy records were broken. On 21 May, our country broke the record for wind and solar energy in our country: the absolute production then amounted to more than 6.4 GW.
Production of wind and solar energy increased slightly over the year (up 2 percent) to 15.2 TWh, accounting for 16.7 percent of the electricity mix last year. This is mainly due to the increased capacity of onshore wind energy and solar panels. Offshore wind power capacity remained stable, as no additional capacity was installed. A further expansion of the offshore wind farms is planned in 2026.
In terms of electricity prices, 2021 was the equivalent of 2020. Due to the lockdowns in 2020 and the associated lower consumption, the energy price was the lowest in years. In 2021, the prices were exceptionally high.
The fact that our country can export so much power is supported by the significant expansion of the cross-border high-voltage connections since 2018. These include a first direct connection with the United Kingdom and Germany.
– .
