Is Belgium a viable energy alternative?

With mounting land and grid constraints across major markets, Belgium is emerging as a viable alternative. This shift raises tough questions for Belgium’s energy transition, as the country faces complex trade-offs between digital advancement and energy sustainability.

Will Belgium become more reliant on electricity imports?

If policy remains unchanged, we will see Belgium's dependence on electricity imports steadily increase, from 50-60 TWh in 2036 to 70-90 TWh in 2050. Without a long-term strategy on the future energy mix and new policy measures, Belgium will therefore become more reliant on electricity imports.

Will Belgium's energy mix be reliant on imports in 2035-2050?

Belgium's existing generation facilities and already-approved investments can provide only half of what is needed in the long term. Therefore, new governments will soon have to consider the desired energy mix for the period 2035-2050 and how reliant the country is willing to be on imports.

Is Belgium a viable alternative to Europe's traditional data centers?

Electricity demand from Belgian data centers is set to rise sharply—increasing two- to fivefold on current levels by 2035—as operators look beyond Europe’s traditional hubs to power the next wave of AI-driven growth. With mounting land and grid constraints across major markets, Belgium is emerging as a viable alternative.

Will Belgium's dependence on electricity increase in 10 years?

However, due to the rising demand for electricity, this will no longer be sufficient in 10 years' time. If policy remains unchanged, we will see Belgium's dependence on electricity imports steadily increase, from 50-60 TWh in 2036 to 70-90 TWh in 2050.

Could a new data center trend impact Belgium's electricity system?

A new BCG report reveals how this trend could significantly impact Belgium’s electricity system. Europe’s main data center hubs—Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin (FLAP-D)—have historically dominated the landscape.