Focus on ENGIE’s activities in Belgium

What are the strengths of ENGIE Belgium?

First of all, we are the market leader here, with a strong client basis. In B2B, we offer large corporations, such as Google and BASF, green Power Purchase Agreements or PPAs (read the article). In B2C, we support our residential customers with easy-to-use energy saving tools. Customers of ENGIE who use the Smart App use 30% less energy.

But Belgium is best known in the Group for its nuclear activities, operating five reactors. You just signed a landmark agreement with the Belgian government...

Yes, it allows us to extend the operations of our two youngest nuclear power plants by ten years (read the article). This large and complex industrial project involves more than 4,000 people, making it the largest project of the last decade in Belgium by far. The agreement also provides a good balance of risk between the Group and the government.

In the long term, the Belgian government intends to phase out nuclear and base its decarbonization on renewable energy only. In this context, how does ENGIE implement its Net Zero Carbon strategy in Belgium?

I will mention three main axes.

We continue to grow in renewables. We are currently operating more than 216 wind turbines in Belgium. Our target is to reach 1,000 MW of installed onshore wind capacity by 2030 and to play a significant role in Belgium's offshore wind ambitions in the North Sea through the Ocean Winds joint-venture.

We develop our flexibility portfolio. In the coming years we will develop 200 MW of BESS capacity in Vilvorde (read the article) and extend the lifetime of the existing gas turbine. We will also develop a brand new 875 MW state-of-the-art low-carbon CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine) in Flémalle.

Lastly, we help our customers to decarbonize. We want to go further than supplying low carbon electrons and molecules. Our goal is to empower our customers thanks to our decentralized on-site solutions such as solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries.

One last word?

Next to our strong business ambitions, we recognize the importance of giving back to our country. Through the Belgian branch of the ENGIE Foundation, we have helped more than 95,000 children through 100 social projects by non-profit organizations. This is part of our One ENGIE Belgium spirit!