After sweeping the UK and leaving an impressive trail of damage in its wake, Storm Ciarán has come to Belgium, with inverted umbrellas and fallen branches littering streets, not to mention planes grounded and trains delayed or stopped altogether.
Thankfully less powerful than when blasting British shores, strong winds invariably turn my thoughts to harnessing this energy – a pursuit that Belgium is ploughing significant resources into as it enlarges its offshore wind capacity. The impact can already be felt, with the national grid operator observing record wind production in July.
This has on several occasions resulted in electricity prices falling below gas prices and, crucially, gives Belgium control over its energy supply – an issue of sovereignty that makes us less vulnerable to tensions driven by international stresses beyond our direct influence.
Yet the trouble with almost all renewable energies is knowing when they will deliver; productive periods are frequently followed by drought periods, with wind or solar contributing little to nationwide demand. If only we could have wind on tap...
To make up for the shortfall, Belgium has recognised the importance of a reliable base load supply, with its two operational nuclear reactors extended until 2035 to ensure this is met. But it also is looking to other sources to complete the mix and on Monday announced which initiatives will receive subsidies to cover future need.
Notably, investment in battery parks has grown, indicating the ambition to capture and store excess electricity from renewables. This is in line with EIB investment in battery "gigafactories" elsewhere in the EU. Encouragingly, Monday's announcement in Belgium also projected that it will not currently be necessary to construct more gas power stations, with recent plans the object of anger both from locals and environmentalists.
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1. Belgian Foreign Minister expects 'some' citizens to be evacuated from Gaza
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has said that she expects "some" Belgian nationals to be evacuated from Gaza to Egypt on Thursday. Read more.
2. Storm Ciarán arrives: Trains and planes cancelled, three people found in Brussels canal
The expected Storm Ciarán has arrived in Belgium and while the largest impact is expected at the coast, it is also causing disruption elsewhere in the country. Read more.
3. 'Attack on the language': France wants to ban gender-inclusive writing
French senators will debate a controversial bill aimed at "protecting the French language from excessive so-called 'inclusive writing'" on Monday evening, with left-wing parties deeming the move "old-fashioned," Belga News Agency reports. Read more.
4. Belgian economy grows despite eurozone contraction
Belgium's GDP growth accelerated in the third quarter of 2023, as the country's economic outlook continues to brighten following the recent news that inflation fell close to zero in October. Read more.
5. What are 'titres-services' and why do we need them?
Domestic tasks are often a chore preferably left for someone else, and indeed, those lucky enough to have the means often seek cleaning and other help with the house. Read more.
6. Indexing rents and saving rates: What changes in Belgium on 1 November?
Wednesday 1 November not only marks All Saints' Day, recognised as an official public holiday in Belgium, but it is also the start of a new month, meaning changes to laws and new rules coming into place. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: The Birch Tree Circle
It’s not easy to find this monument. Deep in the forest outside Brussels, 32 young birch trees were planted in a circle in memory of the victims of two terrorist attacks in Brussels on 22 March 2016. Read more.
