Flanders exceeds European energy-saving target by 9 percent

Flanders is the only Belgian region to have succeeded in meeting its previously set energy-saving target by 2020. According to the European energy efficiency directive, Flanders had to save 47,75 MWh of energy, but it exceeded that target by 9 percent, Flemish minister of Energy Zuhal Demir reported on Friday.

Europe imposes an obligation on its member states to save on the end use of energy. For the Flemish Region, this European obligation resulted in an energy saving objective of 47,75 million MWh by the end of 2020. In the final reporting from the Member States to the European Commission, it appears that Flanders realised energy savings of 52,2 million MWh between 2014 and 2020. This is roughly equivalent to the energy consumption of all Flemish households in 2020.

Over a quarter of the result came from support for investments in insulation measures, such as roof insulation, installation of high-efficiency glazing and small-scale renewable energy measures.

The largest contribution came from industry. The voluntary energy policy agreements between the Flemish government and energy-intensive companies, under which companies commit to making extra efforts in the area of energy efficiency, account for almost two-thirds of the savings in Flanders. These agreements have been tightened since then. Over a quarter of the result came from support for investments in insulation measures, such as roof insulation, installation of high-efficiency glazing and small-scale renewable energy measures in buildings such as heat pumps.

The Belgian regions of Wallonia and Brussels, in turn, fell short of their targets by 10% and 25% respectively. However, the Flemish result means that the target for Belgium as a whole will just be met, claims Demir.

(BRV)

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