As is known, energy efficiency policies are dealt with at the regional level. The Belgian NEEAP consists of three regional action plans, namely for Flanders, Wallonia and the Region of Brussels. None of the regions opted for an EEO scheme, but chose for alternative measures instead.
- Design of Energy Efficiency Obligation scheme (EEO)
- Proposed alternative measures
- Country-Context profile
- Further Information
Proposed alternative measures
The regions decided to introduce alternative measures starting from successful measures which were implemented in the past, and complemented with some new measures.
Having voluntary agreements with the energy-intensive industry and giving financial incentives to promote energy efficiency in the built environment (renovation market) is the common focus within the three regions. Because the industrial sectors are limited in the region of Brussels, the target sector in the Brussels’ NEEAP is the built environment. To complement these grants, Brussels also submitted measures like energy advice (Energy House), obligation to perform energy audits in companies having an environmental permit, obligation to inspect periodically gas or fuel oil boilers, … Although the measures cover almost all sectors, the transport sector is missing in the three action plans because the impact of instruments is difficult to measure.
The following table provides a summary of the policy instruments and their sectoral focus in the Article 7 submissions (Sum of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels).
|
residential - existing buildings |
residential - new buildings |
service (incl public) - existing buildings |
service (incl public) - new buildings |
industry - energy intensive |
industry - non-energy intensive |
|
|
Loans |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grants |
5 |
|
4 |
|
|
1 |
|
Tax rebates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Voluntary Agreements |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
Regulations |
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
Information, advice, billing feedback, smart metering |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
All |
9 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Country-Context profile
Belgium belongs to the Member States with a high level of economic capacity and demonstrating an improved administrative capacity. Belgium’s economy can be considered as rather strong within the EU28. Belgium is among the top 10 countries in GDP per capita of Europe.
Belgium’s 2020 energy efficiency target is 43.7 Mtoe expressed in primary energy consumption (32.5 Mtoe expressed in final energy consumption). If the trend in primary energy consumption observed in the period 2005-2013 continues up to 2020, Belgium will be at risk of not meeting its national target. Belgium has to increase its current efforts regarding energy efficiency to further decrease its current primary energy consumption (47.4 in 2013) to reach its ambitious 2020 target.Primary energy intensity in Belgium has decreased from 2005, although it remains slightly above the EU average. A high energy intensity reduction is recorded in the industrial sector, i.e. about 16,1% between 2005 and 2013, significantly more than the average energy intensity reduction in the EU28. Final energy intensity in the residential sector in Belgium (as reported at GDP constant prices Euro2010) decreased by more than 20% between 2005 and 2013, but it is still above the EU average. The specific energy intensity of passenger cars remained stable. The specific energy intensity for freight transport increased consistently between 2000-2010 (by 34%), showing a deteriorating trend(Source: Country Fact Sheet Belgium - State of the Energy Union, November 2015)
