Solarplaza Summit | Belgium

On 14 March 2023, the European Commission proposed to reform the EU's electricity market design following the recent energy crisis. The proposal includes revisions of a number of regulations and directives in an attempt to “ensure structural improvements, well focused investments and regulatory measures for the long-term competitiveness of the EU and its Member States”.

National objectives and targets, as well as technological advances, keep shaping the Belgian RE landscape at a rapid speed. This session examines how the future of the Belgian energy sector is being transformed, what parameters will impact it and how it compares to other EU countries. 

Although the energy market is experiencing rapid expansion, its trajectory remains uncertain. The introduction of new technologies presents unparalleled opportunities, but simultaneously, soaring electricity prices throughout Europe may overshadow the effects of price cannibalization, which poses a threat to the long-term profitability of renewable energy. This session will analyse the risks involved and explore the most viable short- and long-term strategies to ensure a stable and profitable market growth. 

Storage solutions can provide new market opportunities for renewable energy by enabling greater integration of intermittent renewable sources into the grid, while supporting mitigation of variability of renewable energy production, providing a stable and reliable supply of electricity. Additionally, storage solutions can help to reduce energy costs by allowing businesses and households to shift their energy consumption from peak to off-peak periods. But is it all so rosy? This session will look at possible next steps to implement and leverage storage solutions for renewable energy in the Belgian market:

As the energy transition gains momentum and complexity, it necessitates the development of adequate Pan-European infrastructure to support the transition. Among the critical components, electricity grid flexibility and hybridisation may play a crucial role in facilitating new possibilities for the future. This session aims to explore the opportunities and challenges of making the Belgian grid more flexible and adaptive to the increasingly volatile and agile energy landscape.

Nearly 10% of EU buildings are currently equipped with solar rooftop installations and the implementation of the EU solar rooftop mandate is set to boost the deployment. Simultaneously, the electrification of transportation and heating is being propelled by the increasing use of electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps. This panel of experts will explore these trends in sector integration through innovative business models, new technologies and legislative adoptions for new market opportunities.

As the solar industry matures, so do its assets, experienced operations and maintenance (O&M) become of increasing essence. This case study will give hands-on insights on the importance of O&M in a growing solar market and discuss strategies for managing solar assets.