Over the past 12 months, from November 2024 to October 2025, Belgium's electricity consumption is predominantly green, with nearly 60% sourced from low-carbon energy. Nuclear energy plays a major role, supplying close to 30% of the electricity demand. Wind and solar collectively contribute almost 27%, while biofuels and hydropower provide a smaller portion. However, fossil fuels continue to account for around 22% of electricity consumption, with gas being the primary fossil fuel source. Although net imports make up about 17% of the electricity supply, Belgium's significant clean energy generation highlights its ongoing shift towards greener electricity sources.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember, ENTSOE, Eurostat, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Belgium?
Unfortunately, electricity consumption in Belgium has seen a noticeable decline. The latest data reflects an average electricity use of 7221 kWh per person, marking a decrease of 1858 kWh per person from the peak level recorded in 2006. This is matched by a decrease in low-carbon electricity generation, which now stands at 4320 kWh per person, showing a reduction of 1774 kWh from the previous peak in 2021. These declines in overall consumption and low-carbon generation are concerning, especially given the urgent need for electrification to address climate goals and the rapid growth of AI and digital services.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Belgium should focus on expanding its robust nuclear, solar, and wind capacities. Learning from successful regions, Belgium could enhance its nuclear contribution by studying France's able use of nuclear power, where almost 70% of electricity is nuclear. For wind energy, Belgium might look to regions like Iowa and South Dakota, where wind provides more than half of all electricity. Solar energy also offers opportunities for significant expansion, with reference countries like Lebanon achieving over 30% of electricity from solar power. Integrating such practices and innovations could strengthen Belgium's low-carbon electricity generation capabilities.
History
Historically, nuclear energy has played a central role in Belgium's electricity mix, with substantial expansions in the 1970s and 1980s, notably in 1975, 1983, and 1986, when nuclear generation often increased by several TWh. However, the abrupt downturns around 2012 and in subsequent years are deeply disappointing, given the forced reductions they caused. Recent years have seen fluctuating nuclear output, but there is potential for resurgence, evidenced by significant increases in 2016 and 2021. Meanwhile, wind energy has shown commendable contributions in recent years, reflected in the population embrace of wind power after 2020. With these mixed historical trends, it remains critical for Belgium to support and augment its low-carbon energies to ensure a sustainable and secure energy future.
