Belgian energy watchdog CREG warns of abundant solar power

A new study by the Belgian energy regulator CREG warns of an abundance of solar power and that more flexibility will be needed to accommodate the growing surpluses. The high-voltage grid operator Elia had already sounded the alarm before the summer.

Since 2021, Belgium’s solar panel capacity has more than doubled to 10.3 gigawatts. In the summer, when consumption is traditionally lower, solar panels, wind turbines, nuclear power stations, and combustion plants sometimes produce more electricity than necessary, pushing today’s electricity grid to its limits.

Risk of blackouts

Large solar or wind farms will have to be shut down if Belgium fails to export the surpluses to neighboring countries. At such times, negative electricity prices should encourage consumers to consume more and eliminate the surplus.

If Elia cannot eliminate the oversupply of solar energy, the situation risks escalating, and electrical appliances, machines, and power stations themselves will run faster. In extreme cases, this can even lead to blackouts.

Elia pleads for more flexibility

It is becoming increasingly difficult for Elia to keep the grid in balance. Belgium has little or no buffer to correct significant imbalances in real time. The not-too-sunny weather in July and August this year helped.

Like Elia, the CREG emphasizes that gaining more flexibility in the electricity market will be crucial. For example, it can help if battery farms or smartly controlled home batteries absorb solar energy production peaks. ­In addition, it helps if families and companies adjust their consumption and shift to times with low or negative prices when there is a lot of supply.