Belgium: Ambitious Targets for Solar Thermal
 Belgium: Ambitious Targets for Solar Thermal

Belgium: Ambitious Targets for Solar Thermal

 Cumulative Collector Area” After a five-month delay, Belgium finally submitted its National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) in November 2010 – with quite ambitious targets for solar thermal: The cumulative collector area is to increase by a 22-fold, from 0.21 million m² in 2010 to 4.62 million m² in 2020. Tax credits and incentive programmes are thought to support the implementation. However, experts doubt its feasibility.
Source: NREAP/own calculations

According to Belgium’s NREAP targets, the share of renewable energies in the total national heating and cooling demand is planned to increase from today’s 2.3% to 11.9% by 2020 (see table). The 11.9% represent an amount of 2,588 ktoe and are supposed to be covered largely through biomass (78.6%). Heat pumps are thought to contribute 13.4% and solar thermal energy is going to have a share of at least 7.7%. The latter corresponds to an energy amount of 198.7 ktoe, which translates into a total collector area of 4.62 million m². Hence, the collector area in operation per capita in 2020 would amount to 0.43m² – which is well above the EU-27 average of 0.26 m² (see http://www.solarthermalworld.org/node/1503).

  2010 2015 2020
Gross Final Energy Consumption (FEC) 40,517 ktoe 41,076 ktoe 41,301 ktoe
Heating & Cooling 21,804 ktoe 21,804 ktoe 21,804 ktoe
Renewable Heating & Cooling 766.4 ktoe 1,434.6 ktoe 2,588.4 ktoe
Share of Renewable Heating & Cooling 3.5% 6.6% 11.9%
Solar Thermal in Renewable Heating & Cooling 29.0 ktoe 91.2 ktoe 198.7 ktoe
Share of Solar Thermal in Renewable Heating & Cooling 3.8% 6.4% 7.7%
Solar Thermal – Equivalent* 0.21 million m² 2.12 million m² 4.62 million m²
Collector Area in Operation per Capita** 0.02 m² 0.20 m² 0.43 m²
*1 ktoe – 23,260 m² (Source: ESTIF)
**10,788,760 inhabitants in 2009 (Source: World Bank)

Data on gross final energy consumption, energy demand for heating and cooling, as well as the share of renewable energies in heating and cooling in Belgium.
Source: NREAP Belgium/ESTIF/own calculations

Two national financial instruments already in place are thought to help achieve these ambitious targets: First, the income tax reduction of 40% of the investment costs of a solar thermal system, and second, the low-interest loan with 1.5%. Furthermore, there are subsidies for solar thermal systems whose incentive level differs throughout the three Belgian regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.

Experts, however, see the announced solar target more critical: “Only if the state offers large incentives – and simultaneously implements a solar obligation – can we perhaps come close to the forecast,” states Jean-Paul Vantomme, former Chairman of the Belgian solar thermal association BELSOLAR, and Consultant and former Sales Director at Belgian collector manufacturer ESE. “In my opinion, the 4.62 million m² in 2020 are far too optimistic. The Belgian solar thermal industry can only dream of these numbers coming true. ”

Since January 2010, the Belgian solar association BELSOLAR is an independent department (Section 5) of the Belgian Association of Heating Technology (ATTB). According to Vantomme, the dual membership of many solar companies in both associations is therefore no longer necessary. In addition, the solar thermal sector is now profiting from better financial opportunities and a well-functioning administration.

More information:
NREAPs: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/
action_plan_en.htm
http://www.belsolar.be
http://www.attb.be/section5-fr.asp
http://www.ese-solar.com

 

Stephanie Banse

Stephanie Banse is a German journalist specialised in solar thermal technology.