Last year, importing electricity from France lowered prices in Belgium. It is indeed cheaper to import it from abroad than to run our power stations on gas.
Last year, it was often cheaper to import electricity from abroad than to run Belgian power stations on gas, confirms a new report from Creg relating to developments on the wholesale gas and electricity markets. electricity. This made it possible to have relatively low prices in Belgium, thanks to imports from France, reports L’Echo on Tuesday.
The price of electricity on the market “day-ahead” Belgian energy was in fact, on average, 70.2 euros per MWh in 2024. This is the lowest level since 2020.
Belgian prices were, on average, the lowest among continental European auction zones, with three exceptions: France (58 euros/MWh), Spain (63 euros/MWh) and Portugal (63. 5 euros per MWh).
“The proximity to France undoubtedly played a role in this regard”emphasizes the Creg. “Despite the sometimes very significant price differences between Belgium and France, Belgium has been able to benefit to a large extent from the very low level of French prices, due to the low demand for electricity in France and the high availability of nuclear production park, on the one hand, and renewable energy sources in France and the Iberian Peninsula, on the other hand”continues the regulator.
Net imports from France reached 12.5 TWh last year, while total consumption in Belgium amounted to 81 TWh.
electricity France import gas-fired power plants Nuclear power plants
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