Flanders makes solar panels mandatory for large electricity consumers

Owners of buildings in Flanders that use more than 1 GWh of electricity annually will now be obliged to install solar panels. This obligation results from a proposal for a decree approved in the Flemish parliament on Wednesday.

The obligation will apply not only to owners but also to leaseholders of large buildings. "This concerns a target group of about 2.500 electricity users within very different sectors", said lead proposer Andries Gryffroy (N-VA, Flemish nationalists). However, the Flemish government may still determine modalities that will allow them to use other forms of renewable energy to meet the obligation.

The obligation will also apply to government buildings using more than 500 MWh annually.

"If we really want to live up to our role model function, all government buildings should already have been covered with solar panels."

"We welcome the ambition to accelerate the realisation of Flanders' solar energy potential", commented Hannelore Goeman and Bruno Tobback of opposition party Vooruit (Social Democrats). "Nevertheless, we still have questions about the approach - especially when we note that this government does not even have a clear picture of its own solar potential. No information is available even about the solar panels that are already there."

The Flemish Green party, also part of the opposition, is not opposed to the measure but stresses that Flanders is not moving fast enough. "If we really want to live up to our role model function, all government buildings should already have been covered with solar panels", says Staf Aerts.

(BRV)

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