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Nuclear accounted for 52% of Belgium power mix in 2021

According to the Belgian power transmission system operator (TSO) Elia, nuclear accounted for 52% of Belgium's electricity generation in 2021 (compared to 40% in 2020) thanks to the high availability of the nuclear fleet, followed by natural gas (25%, compared to 35% in 2020), wind (12%, including 7% offshore) and solar (5%). Wind and solar power generation slightly increased in 2021 (+2%), mainly due to an increase in installed onshore (11%) and solar (17%) generation; offshore wind generation remained stable. Since 2019, Belgium has been a net electricity exporter, with 6.6 TWh of net exports in 2021. In 2021, exports increased by 59% to 21.7 TWh. Electricity consumption grew by 4% in 2021 to 84.2 TWh, and remains only 1% below the 2019 level. The average price of electricity tripled between 2020 and 2021 from €31.9/MWh in 2020 to €98.2/MWh in 2021, mainly due to high gas prices.

In December 2021, the Belgian government agreed, as previously pledged, to close all nuclear power plants by 2025. It will, however, reserve the right to extend operations on two reactors depending on the level of security of supply. In 2003, the country passed a law to phase-out nuclear power between 2022 and 2025 but the deadline was not fully adopted by the government.