Nuclear Energy Consumption in Belgium

Introduction

Fig. 1: Annual consumption of nuclear energy in Belgium. [2]

Nuclear energy consumption in Belgium has undergone significant fluctuations from 2011 to 2021 demonstrating the changing approach to nuclear power in the midst of global energy landscapes. This decade is depicted by fluctuations due to energy policy, operational challenges, and market factors which made nuclear energy a large part of Belgium's energy landscape. The changing pattern of nuclear energy consumption encompasses the broader challenges and debates faced by Belgium in balancing environmental and safety considerations with its energy needs. Here we analyze the most important fluctuation within this period: 2015-2016. Table 1 shows the annual consumption of nuclear energy in exajoules.

Data and Analysis

The period from 2015 to 2016 marks the largest change in nuclear energy consumption, with nuclear energy consumption plummeting by 25% in 2015 followed by an increase in consumption in 2016, where consumption increased by an astonishing 66.7%. This trend is shown in Fig. 1, which depicts the annual percentage changes in nuclear energy consumption in Belgium between 2011 and 2021. This increase is noteworthy, not just due to its magnitude but also because it made up for the previous three consecutive years of decline.

The increase in Belgium's nuclear energy consumption from 2015 to 2016 can be seen in the context of the country's changing energy policies and challenges. After the 2009 International Energy Agency (IEA) review, Belgium implemented several significant energy policies responding to EU directives and national security needs. The policies focused on enhancing energy market competition, encouraging the adoption of renewable energy, and improving emergency response mechanisms. [1] Belgium also faced difficulty with its nuclear reactors. For example, in 2015, the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors were powered down due to cracks that were found in the reactors that were discovered using ultrasonic technology. In 2016, the government decided to extend the Doel 1 and Doel 2 reactors beyond their original expiration date. The reactors were extended because the standards that were put in place were made more lenient. The return of reactors such as these may have led to the sharp increase in nuclear energy consumption. In addition, the federal and regional governments' commitment to the competitive energy markets and the implementation of the third EU Directives on Electricity and Natural Gas Markets may have affected energy supply strategies, including the role of nuclear power. [1] Additionally, the development of renewable energy sources and reduction of CO₂ emissions might have affected the overall energy, putting a temporary reliance on nuclear power to meet the country's energy needs while converting to greener alternatives. [1]

Conclusion

The fluctuations in Belgium's nuclear energy consumption show the effects of operational, policy, and societal factors. The return in nuclear energy consumption following periods of decline shows the difficulties associated with managing aging infrastructure, the impact of external factors like economic downturns or public health crises, and the difficulties of transitioning to more sustainable energy sources.

These fluctuations show the necessity of effective energy policies that can adapt to changing circumstances and the need for investment in both the maintenance of existing nuclear facilities and the development of alternative energy sources. As Belgium heads towards its goal of phasing out nuclear energy, knowing the causes and implications of these fluctuations will be important for energy security, sustainability, and public support for future energy strategies.

© Rifat Emam. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.

References

[1] U. Soytaş et al., "Economic and Environmental Implications of the Nuclear Power Phase-out in Belgium: Insights From Time-Series Models and a Partial Differential Equations Algorithm," Struct. Change Econ. Dyn. 63, 241 (2022).

[2] "Energy Policies of IAE Countries: Belgium," International Energy Agency, 2016.