Belgium is overproducing renewable energy, while households face penalties for excess solar power
Belgium is producing so much renewable electricity that households are being penalised for generating more than they consume. Although energy suppliers are encouraging customers to use more electricity, the high cost is undermining the appeal of technologies like heat pumps.
In recent years, Belgium has made significant investments in renewable energy. Wind turbines were installed quickly, and citizens installed solar panels on their roofs in large numbers - stimulated by interest-free loans and the promise of quick returns. However, as energy generation outpaces demand, a new problem has emerged: households are being charged for producing too much energy.
Surplus electricity
According to an investigation by public broadcaster VRT NWS, around 450,000 Flemish households with solar panels could soon face fees for surplus electricity injected into the grid, even when it retains value on the wholesale market. An analysis of 86 energy contracts revealed that 75 contain clauses, often hidden deep in the small print, allowing energy companies to charge consumers once a certain threshold for sold solar energy is reached.
Many consumers are unaware of the contracts they’ve signed
Rob Beenders, the Consumer Protection minister (Vooruit), has asked the economic inspection service to investigate whether such practices constitute unfair trading. He is also calling for clearer and more transparent communication from energy providers. “Many consumers are unaware of the contracts they’ve signed, and energy suppliers are not making them easy to understand,” he said. “People need full transparency, especially when it comes to something as fundamental as energy.”
Heat pumps
Meanwhile, Bouwunie, the construction federation, is urging the government to introduce lower electricity tariffs for heat pumps, thereby making them a more viable option for home heating. They propose a system modelled on employer-covered electric vehicle (EV) charging, where a module between the charger and the smart meter tracks usage and enables precise reimbursement.
This could facilitate split billing and exempt heat pump electricity from certain levies. Bouwunie has requested discussions with the relevant ministers to advance the proposal.
© BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER
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