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Natural gas, as its name suggests, is made by nature. Its composition therefore depends on where it comes from in the world.
Thus:
Both these types of gas are basically made up of methane, but lean gas is diluted with 10% to 15% of nitrogen, a neutral, non-combustible gas.
Our Dutch neighbours have decided to halt the extraction of gas from the Slochteren sub-soil. The deposit is running out and it seems that drilling is affecting the number of earth tremors in the Groningen region.
The Dutch gas tap was therefore closed in October 2023. Between 2020 and 2022, the entire Brussels region was converted to rich gas.
This is also called gas L to H conversion.
Theoretically, boilers sold after 1978 should not have a problem. An adjustment or small adaptation may be necessary in a few cases.
On the other hand, the necessary adaptations will be difficult or impossible for all pre-1978 equipment and some equipment will have to be replaced.
Only an approved technician is able to carry out these inspections and adaptations.
It's important to have your appliances checked if you haven't already done so. Your appliances could consume more energy, deteriorate more quickly or present safety problems, such as emitting more CO2.
No. In reality, rich gas has more energy per m3 and therefore less gas is needed to produce the same amount of heat as with lean gas.
Is our bill now going to be reduced? No, because it is based on the energy obtained, not on the volume delivered. This is why the gas price is expressed in kWh, the energy measurement unit, and not in m3.
Moving to rich gas from lean gas will therefore not affect the energy bill.
More info: "What is the difference between rich gas and lean gas? Will it affect my bill?"
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