From October 2025 through September 2026, almost half of Belgium’s electricity consumption was supplied by low-carbon generation, just over a quarter by net imports, and almost a quarter by fossil fuels. Wind supplied about 17%, solar 14%, and nuclear 12%, with biofuels and hydropower contributing around 4% and 2%, respectively. Among fossil sources, gas supplied about 20% of electricity consumption and coal about 2%. Net imports accounted for 27%, but the data do not identify their generation sources, so they cannot be classified as either clean or fossil electricity here. Expanding domestic clean electricity would help displace fossil generation and its associated climate and air-pollution impacts.

Is Electricity Growing in Belgium?

Belgium’s latest figures remain well below its historical peaks, although this comparison alone does not establish whether electricity consumption grew or fell in the most recent year. Electricity consumption in 2026 was about 6,800 kWh per person, roughly 2,300 kWh—or 25%—below the 2006 record of around 9,100 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation stood at about 3,300 kWh per person, approximately 2,800 kWh—or 46%—below its 2021 record of around 6,100 kWh. This substantial shortfall in clean electricity generation is concerning: Belgium needs renewed growth in low-carbon electricity to support electrification and rising demand from activities such as AI.

Suggestions

Belgium can increase low-carbon electricity generation by expanding its existing nuclear, wind, and solar sectors, alongside the grids needed to deliver their output. Neighbouring France, where nuclear supplies about 67% of electricity generation, offers a particularly relevant example of nuclear power’s potential; Slovakia’s roughly 66% nuclear share provides another strong benchmark. Belgium should pursue more output from its existing nuclear fleet and consider additional reactors. For wind, nearby Denmark generates almost 60% of its electricity from wind, while Germany and the United Kingdom generate around 30%, offering useful examples for further deployment. Solar expansion also deserves strong support: North Macedonia generates about 40% of its electricity from solar, and the US state of California about 31%. These regions demonstrate how sustained development of nuclear, wind, and solar can deliver much larger clean electricity contributions.

History

Belgium’s low-carbon electricity history shows substantial nuclear expansion followed by troubling losses and repeated recoveries. Nuclear generation increased by almost 10 TWh across 1975–1976, then by nearly 24 TWh across 1983–1986, with another gain of about 4 TWh in 1997. The 2010s brought sharp setbacks: nuclear output fell by around 8 TWh in 2012 and by a combined 16.5 TWh in 2014–2015, before rebounding by about 17 TWh in 2016. A nearly 14 TWh fall in 2018 was followed by a roughly 15 TWh recovery in 2019. That instability continued with an 11 TWh decline in 2020 and a 15 TWh rebound in 2021. Subsequent nuclear losses—about 6 TWh in 2022, 10 TWh in 2023, 7 TWh in 2025, and 13 TWh in 2026—represent a deeply disappointing reversal of clean electricity progress. Wind’s approximately 3 TWh gain in 2023 was welcome, but far smaller than that year’s nuclear loss. Belgium should reverse this erosion by rebuilding nuclear output while accelerating wind and solar growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.