News from Belgium
EU Car Market 2026: Electrification Accelerates – ICE Vehicles Lose Ground
27 May 2026 15:36 | Brussels – Despite geopolitical uncertainties, the European passenger car market has grown by 4.2 percent so far in 2026. Behind the overall figure lies a structural shift: battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are gaining significant market share, while internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are losing ground and conventional hybrids continue to expand. read more...
EU Awards Contracts: Over €1 Billion for Industrial Decarbonisation and Gigawatt-scale Electrolysis Capacity
11 May 2026 17:00 | Brussels (Belgium) – The European Commission has awarded funding to nine hydrogen projects under a competitive auction conducted by the European Hydrogen Bank. In total, more than €1 billion in support funds will be allocated. The selected projects are expected to develop electrolysis capacity at gigawatt scale and enable significant CO2 savings across Europe. read more...
Belgian Government Considers State Takeover Of Engie’s Nuclear Power Plants
05 May 2026 09:19 | Brussels (Belgium) - The Belgian government is considering a state takeover of the nuclear power plants owned by the French energy company Engie and has initially imposed a halt on the decommissioning of these facilities. As part of the review process, an assessment will be conducted to determine whether the nuclear assets could be transferred into state ownership in the future. read more...
Belgium shuts down all nuclear power plants for seven months
15 Apr 2026 17:07 | Brussels, Belgium – In Belgium, the last two nuclear power plants were shut down for seven months at the beginning of April 2026. The goal is the modernization of the two nuclear power plants Doel 4 and Tihange 3. read more...
EU Focuses on Nuclear And Fusion Research: Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 Launched with Focus on SMR Strategy
23 Mar 2026 11:13 | Brussels (Belgium) - Following the classification of reducing the share of nuclear energy in Europe as a strategic mistake by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, the European Commission is now placing nuclear technologies at the center of its funding priorities. read more...
Why Ursula von der Leyen is Rediscovering Nuclear Energy - and What France’s Nuclear Protection Has to Do with it
13 Mar 2026 08:08 | Münster (Germany) - Commission President Ursula von der Leyen referred to the key role of nuclear energy and renewable energy in electricity generation at the nuclear energy summit in Paris. What at first glance appears to be a turnaround in energy policy actually has a much deeper background. read more...
Wärtsilä Builds Two-Hour Large-Scale Battery Storage System for Grid Stabilization in Belgium
17 Feb 2026 08:53 | Helsinki (Finland) - The market for large-scale battery storage systems in Europe is currently gaining significant momentum. The Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has started construction of a two-hour battery energy storage system with a capacity of 50 megawatts and an energy storage capacity of 100 megawatt-hours in central-eastern Belgium. read more...
Goldwind Shares Under Pressure: EU Commission Investigates Goldwind Over Possible Competition-distorting Subsidies
06 Feb 2026 08:58 | Brussels (Belgium) - The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation into the Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd. The probe is based on indications that the company may have received state subsidies from China that could distort competition in the EU internal market. The case is being handled by the Directorate-General for Competition under reference number FS.100143. read more...
EU Battery Storage: 2025 Another Record Year - Large-Scale Storage Dominates Growth - Expansion Pace Still Insufficient for 2030
29 Jan 2026 09:41 | Brussels (Belgium) - In 2025, new battery storage systems with a total storage capacity of 27.1 GWh were installed in the EU. While this marks yet another record year for the sector, the pace of expansion still needs to accelerate in order to meet flexibility requirements by 2030. Pressure on policymakers and markets is increasing. read more...
EU Weakens Climate Target: EU Agrees on 90-Percent Climate Target For 2040 - Greenpeace And WWF Criticize Watered-Down Measures
06 Nov 2025 09:12 | Brussels (Belgium) / Berlin (Germany) - Just ahead of the UN Climate Conference in Brazil, EU environment ministers have reportedly agreed in Brussels, after lengthy and tough negotiations, on a climate target for 2040. read more...
