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To avoid a widespread power failure, there must be a balance between the electricity that 'enters' the grid (produced and imported) and the electricity that is consumed at all times.
If the upcoming winter proves to be harsh, the electricity supply may be interrupted in rural areas for a certain length of time. The reason for doing so is to prevent a wide-scale imbalance of the power grid, which could produce a blackout.
If you have a power cut, you should first check whether the problem is general or individual. Depending on the situation, you may be able to resolve the problem yourself. Otherwise, you have to contact Sibelga or an electrician.
The gas we use in Belgium is imported from abroad. The electricity is generated in Belgium and in the neighbouring countries in different types of power stations.
The difference between rich and lean gas is their calorific value, i.e. a different quantity of energy. However, this difference does not affect your bill.
To store electricity, it has to be converted into another form and turned back into electricity when it is needed. There are different ways of doing this,
Microgrids are energy distribution systems which only involve a small group of connections. They can operate independently or be connected to a larger grid.
Whether from natural or human sources, electromagnetic fields and radiation are omnipresent in our environment.
Use the electric car batteries to store electricity and supply electricity to the national grid or home electricity network: this is the idea of vehicle-to-grid.
Virtually everyone in Brussels is already connected to the natural gas network. Has this not happened to your building or home yet? Except for some exceptional situations, you can be connected. Here's how you do it.
In addition to transporting electricity, a smart grid also transmits information. Its key benefits are greater reliability and reduced operating costs.
In the liberalised energy market, you are mainly in contact with two players: the supplier and the distribution system operator. However, alongside these two main parties, other companies or bodies also contribute towards supplying energy and ensuring that the market runs smoothly.
The smart meter or intelligent meter is an electronic meter that is capable of recording and transmitting power consumption data. Smart meters will be rolled out in Brussels gradually.
In Brussels everyone with a connection to the electricity grid contributes towards the costs of the public lighting through their energy bill. The amount depends on the capacity of your connection and is part of Sibelga’s public service obligations.
In exchange for financial compensation, major electricity consumers or owners of power generation units can adapt their use of the electricity grid to contribute to a better balance. In the future, flexibility markets may be opened up to private consumers too.
You will be given 24 hours' notice of any power cut... Use this time to prepare, following the recommendations of Federal Crisis Centre.
The energy transition is the evolution of our old energy production and consumption methods, based on fossil fuels, towards a new system that is more sustainable and better adapted to today's reality.
Why not buy back the surplus solar energy produced by your neighbours? This is the concept of collective self-consumption.
A small photovoltaic generation installation (≤ 10 kVA) may automatically disconnect from the network. These automatic disconnections occur when the voltage or the frequency at the attachment clamps on the converter reach values that are too low or too high. There may be several reasons for this.
Your gas and electricity meters belong to your distribution system operator, Sibelga
Our Dutch neighbours have decided to halt the extraction of lean gas. The entire Brussels region therefore switched to rich gas at the end of 2022.
In Brussels the roll-out of the smart meter is being organised by Sibelga, the power and gas distribution network operator.
From early December until mid-January, the communes and traders’ associations put up cheerful Christmas lights in the city. And so countless lights twinkle for eight hours every night in the winter darkness.
Having work done in the street is not always pleasant for local residents, but three measures are taken to help limit the disruption.
This measure is not applied in Brussels. The smaller number of solar panels here means that the situation in the capital is quite different. Of course, this may change, and Brussels may yet follow in the footsteps of Flanders.
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The answer to all your energy questions in Brussels
